A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

§. Sect. 5 Of the meanes whereby wee may strength∣en our faith in the assurance of our sanctifi∣cation.

Now the meanes to attaine vnto this faith, and to be more and more confirmed in it, is to consider, that God the Father hath elected vs as well to the meanes as to the end; and as he hath ordayned vs vnto life eternall, so also that we shall walke in the way of holinesse and righteousnes, that leadeth vnto it; according to that of the Apostle, he hath chosen vs before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame. And therefore as his election is certaine to bring vs vnto euerlasting happines, so also to conduct vs thither by this way of holinesse, eyther by a shorter cut, as the thiefe vpon the Crosse, who was not cōuerted before he suffred; or by alonger way, as Simeon, Iohn the Apostle, and many others. So in that

golden chaine of saluation; whom hee did predestinate, them also he called; whom he called, them he iustifyed; and whom he iustified, them he glorifyed: the decree of God is coupled and linked vnto the end by the meanes which come betweene them. Againe, we haue Gods promises, vpon which wee may build our faith as well for our sanctification, as for our saluation, and that not only, as the promises of life eternall include the promise of holy∣nesse and a godly life, as the way that leadeth to that end, but seuerally and in speciall manner. For in the Couenant of grace, the Lord promiseth to write his Law in our hearts, by which phrase is signified, that we shall not only know his will in our vnderstandings, but incline vnto it with our af∣fections, that we may practise it in our liues; euen as the law of nature written in the heart of Adam by creation, inabled him both to know it, and also to imbrace and obey it. So God promiseth, that vnder the King∣dome of Christ, he will take away their corruptions of nature, and make them to become new creatures. Yea the Lord hath not onely said, but sworne it, that all who are redeemed out of the hands of our spirituall enemies, shall worship and serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse, before him, all the daies of their liues; that is, not by fits and starts, but from the day of their conuersion, to the day of their death. Againe, the Lord promiseth to giue his Spirit to those that aske him: and our Sauiour, that he will send the Comforter, who shall leade vs into all truth, so that he shall not barely teach vs the way, but guide vs in it; subduing the flesh with the lusts thereof, and inabling vs to withstand the tentations of Satan and the world, to ouer∣come all difficulties, and to hold out in our profession and practice of true godlinesse vnto the end. Moreouer, we may haue a sufficient ground for this speciall faith, if we consider, that the vertue of Christs death being applied by faith, is as effectuall for the mortifying of our flesh and sinfull corruption, as for the taking away of the guilt and punishment of our sins; and that his resurrection is as powerfull to rayse vs vp to newnesse of life in this world, as to the life of glory in the world to come; and therefore they that haue part in Christ, may apply him vnto themselues by faith, for assured sanctification, as well as for iustification or saluation; according to that of the Apostle: But ye are in Christ Iesus, who is of God made vnto vs, wisedome, and righteousnesse, and sanctification, and redemption, that is, not onely sufficient to make vs holy by imputation of his holinesse, but by working in vs inherent holinesse by his Spirit. Finally, the holy Ghost who dwelleth in vs, is all-sufficient to perfect the worke which hee hath begun, and will not willingly lose his labour, in giuing it ouer before he hath attayned his end. And therefore though our flesh be neuer so rebel∣lious, he both can and will tame and mortify it; though our enemies bee neuer so many and malicious, he is all-sufficient by his owne strength, in our greatest weakenesse to ouercome them. And though we meete with neuer so many difficulties, he will so assist and strengthen vs, that they shall not bee able to hinder vs from proceeding in the way of holinesse, till we come to our place of happinesse. Now if by these considerations we strengthen our fayth in this speciall perswasion, that if wee will waite Gods leysure in the vse of all good meanes, wee shall certainely attayne vnto that sanctification which we labour after, it will bee a notable incou∣ragement

to make vs goe on cheerefully in the practice of all duties, which concerne a Christian life; for who would not couragiously fight, that is beforehand assured of victory? or run a race, that is sure to come to the goale, and winne the garland? or vndertake waighty and necessary en∣terprises, though of great difficultie, if he be throughly perswaded, that hee shall ouercome them? whereas on the other side, for want of this faith, or rather this speciall art of application, many deare seruants of God are hindred and discouraged, from going on, in the duties of holinesse and righteousnesse, or else proceede with much vncomfortablenesse and dis∣quietnesse, because comparing their weakenesse, with the difficulty of the worke, they thinke that they shall neuer atchieue it in any measure accep∣table to God; though in the meane time they want not faith to rest vpon the promises of the Gospell, the mercies of God, and merits of Christ, for their iustification, and the bringing of them to euerlasting happi∣nesse?

Notes

• Ephes. 1. 4.
• Rom. 8. 30.
• Ier. 31. 34.
• Esa. 11. 6, 9.
• Luke. 1. 74, 75.
• Luke. 12. 11. Iohn 16. 13.
• Rom. 6. 4.
• 1. Cor. 1. 30.
• Phil. 1. 6.