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 The fourth reason perswa∣ding vs to pie∣ty, which is the consideration of Gods mani∣fold mercies, and of Christs comming to Iudgement.

Vnto these reasons we may adde the consideration of Gods manifold mercies in Iesus Christ, which ought to bee notable inducements to moue vs to the imbracing and practising of piety. For what greater in∣couragement can we haue to make vs zealous and cheerefull in the duties of Gods seruice, then to consider how gracious and good, God hath beene vnto vs in our creation, redemption and continuall preseruation; in giuing vnto vs his Sonne, and pardoning our sinnes, in freeing vs out of the cruell bondage of all our spirituall enemies, and in multiplying his blessings vpon vs, both in spirituall and corporall things? And this ar∣gument the Apostle vseth to this purpose; I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that yee present your bodies a liuing sacrifice, holy, acceptable

to God, which is your reasonable seruice. And as the fruition of Gods present fauours ought to make vs forward in his seruice, so also the consideration of his gracious promises concerning better and more excellent things in time to come, euen the full fruition of his glorious presence, and eternall blessednesse in his euerlasting Kingdome. And this reason also the Apo∣stle vseth to this end: Hauing therefore these promises (dearely beloued) let vs clense our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit, perfecting our holi∣nesse in the feare of God. Finally, the consideration of Christs comming to Iudgement should perswade vs vnto holinesse, when as the heauens being on fire, shall be dissolued and passe away with a noyse, the elements melt with feruent heate, and the earth with all the workes thereof shall be burnt vp. For then onely they shall bee happy who haue beene holy, and raigne with God in glory, who haue faithfully serued him in holinesse and righ∣teousnesse in the Kingdome of grace. And thus the Apostle Peter reaso∣neth, Seeing then (saith he) that all these things shall be dissolued, what man∣ner of persons ought yee to be, in all holy conuersation and godlinesse? But I shall haue hereafter occasion to speake more fully of this point, when I come to shew the manifold reasons and motiues which may induce and per∣swade vs vnto a godly life; and therefore for the present I will content my selfe thus briefly to haue touched them, referring the Reader for his more full satisfaction to the following discourse.

Notes

• Rom. 21. 1.
• 2. Cor. 7. 1.
• 2. Pet. 3. 11.