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.

CAP. III.

Of our adhering and cleauing vnto God, with the full purpose and resolution of our hearts.

§. Sect. 1 Of the summe of the first Commande∣ment.

WE haue spoken of piety, which is the summe of the first Ta∣ble. And now it followeth, that we speake briefely of the particular precepts; the first whereof is contayned in these words: Thou shalt haue no other gods before me, or before my face. The maine scope and summe whereof is this, that wee know, acknowledge and worship Iehouah, the Father, Sonne and holy Ghost, in Trinity of persons, and vnity of Essence, and no other gods besides him. For to haue God, is, in our mindes and vnderstandings to know and ac∣knowledge him, to bee our God, all-sufficient, incomprehensible, omni∣potent, immutable, eternall, iust, mercifull, and infinite in all perfecti∣on; in our hearts and affections to adhere and cleane vnto him with faith, affiance, hope, loue, zeale, whom we know to be the chiefe Goodnesse and supreme cause of all our happinesse; in our wills, with all earnest de∣sire and constant resolution to serue and obey him in all his Commande∣ments, with all the power and faculties of our bodies and soules, whom we know and acknowledge to be the chiefe end of all things, and so infi∣nitely good & gracious vnto vs; and with our bodies, actions and inde∣uours, to worship and serue him alone, with all our might and strength. So that the true sauing knowledge of God is the ground of all other ver∣tues and obedience, as we haue shewed; and therefore if wee would im∣brace any vertues, or perform any Christian duties of a godly life, we must

in the first place labour to haue our mindes inlightened with the know∣ledge of God and his truth; without which, our deuotion will bee no bet∣ter then superstition; and all our indeuours in the performance of religi∣ous duties, meere will-worship and idolatry, as wee see in the example of the Idolaters, who in stead of worshipping the only true God, worship stocks, stones and Images, Saints, and Angels, and in stead of doing Gods will in their deuotions, do their owne wills, and therefore tire themselues, and spend all their strength in vaine.

§. Sect. 2 Of adhering to God, what it is, and the ne∣cessity of it.

But of this knowledge of God, which is the maine ground of a godly life, wee haue before spoken; and now it remaineth that wee speake of the hauing of God in our hearts and affections, wills and resolutions. Of which we will intreate first generally, and then more specially. The gene∣rall duty which compriseth all the particulars, is, that knowing and ac∣knowledging the Lord to be in himselfe the chiefe Goodnesse, and infi∣nite in all perfection, and our most gracious and louing Father in Iesus Christ, we doe adhere and cleaue vnto him with all our soules and wills, hearts and affections, resoluing to consecrate our selues wholy to his wor∣ship, and with the vttermost of our indeuour to please him in all things, by conforming our liues in all holy obedience vnto his reuealed will, lea∣uing and forsaking whatsoeuer he condemneth as euill, and imbracing and practizing all that he commandeth as good. And this the Lord re∣quireth in the first place of all those who serue him. Thou shalt feare the * 1.1 Lord thy God, him shalt thou serue, and to him shalt thou cleaue. And againe, Yee shall walke after the Lord your God, and feare him, and keepe his Comman∣dements, and obey his voice, and yee shall serue him and cleaue vnto him. So Barnabas exhorteth the new Conuerts of Antioch, that with full purpose of * 1.2 heart they would cleaue vnto the Lord. And the Apostle perswadeth not to the bare practice of good duties, but that wee cleaue vnto that which is good. Which holy resolution was in Dauid, who purposed in his heart that * 1.3 his mouth should not transgresse; and fully resolued, that if the Lord would teach him the way of his statutes, he would keepe them with his whole heart and * 1.4 vnto the end. The which resolution is necessary vnto all those who intend to leade a godly life, wherein there are so many lets, difficulties and dis∣couragements, that if wee be not fully resolued to passe by, or ouercome them, wee shall eyther not beginne, or soone giue ouer to proceede in the Christian course. And therefore our holy desires to please God in all things, must be armed and confirmed with strong resolutions, that we will do our vttermost indeuour to attaine vnto our desires; or else they will be but like those idle and vain desires of the sluggards, of which Salomon spea∣keth, who desire and haue nothing, because they are but bare wishers, neuer * 1.5 purposing to take any paines for the satisfying of their desires. Neither can such be said to serue God with their whole hearts, but with a part only; For as Philosophy teacheth vs, there are two faculties in the heart of man; the one called concupiscible, which desireth and imbraceth that good which reason discouereth, the other the irascible faculty, which being displeased with those lets and oppositions that hinder the fruition of the good desired, armeth vs with resolution to set vpon and ouercome them. And with both these we must serue God, cleauing vnto him and his

will, with the desires of our heart, as the chiefe good, and resoluing to inioy him at any price, and to doe that which is pleasing vnto him, notwithstanding all difficulties and dangers which oppose vs in the way.

§. Sect. 3 The proper∣ties of sound resolution: As first, that it must be vni∣uersall, &c.

But seeing many men deceiue themselues with shadowes and shewes of good purposes and resolutions of cleauing vnto God, and pleasing him by their seruice; it will not be amisse to set downe some properties and signes whereby we may know that, vnto which the Scriptures so earnest∣ly perswade vs. And first, this resolution ought to be generall and vniuer∣sall, extending it selfe not only to some few of many duties, but vnto all without exception. We must with Dauid haue respect vnto all Gods Com∣mandements; * 1.6 and walke worthy of the Lord, vnto all pleasing, being fruitfull in euery good worke, and hauing a good conscience in all things, as the Apostle speaketh. Secondly, it must be diligent and painefull in the vse of all good meanes whereby we may attaine vnto our end; like vnto the resolution of worldlings in compassing earthly things, who spare for no paines for the atchieuing their purposes, but labour night and day, by Sea and land, for the compassing of their riches, pleasures and preferments. So as wee may say with Dauid, My soule followeth hard after thee; and neuer rest in our * 1.7 pursuite, till with the Spouse in the Canticles, we inioy him whom our soule loueth. Thirdly, it must be so magnanimous and couragious, that nothing may be able to daunt or dismay it: and the greater the difficulties and dangers be which crosse vs in our Christian courses, the more must wee double and redouble our resolutions to withstand and ouercome them, though it be with the losse of riches, friends, yea, euen life it selfe. And such a resolution was in good Ioshua, who though all the people did leaue * 1.8 the Lord, vowed himselfe and his family vnto his seruice. And in Ruth, whose resolution of adhering to Naomi and her God, could not bee hin∣dred by any disswasion. And finally, in the Apostle Paul, who when hee was perswaded by his friends, that he should not expose himselfe to the perill of persecution, by going vp to Ierusalem, breaketh through all dif∣ficulties in the strength of his couragious resolution; What meane you to * 1.9 weepe and breake my heart? for I am ready, not to be bound onely, but also to die at Hierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus. Yea, when the holy Ghost himselfe witnessed, that in euery Citie, bonds and afflictions did abide him, his resoluti∣on made him constant in his course: But none of these things (saith he) moue * 1.10 me neither count I my life deare vnto my selfe, so that I might finish my course with ioy, &c. Fourthly, it is the property of this resolution of adhering vnto God, to ioyne with this fortitude and magnanimity, true humility; not grounding our courage vpon our owne strength, as Peter did, who trusting to the ardencie and vnchangeablenesse of his loue towards Christ, resolued, that though all men should forsake him, yet hee would * 1.11 not. For if we leane vpon this weake Reede, it will most faile and deceiue vs, when we most rely vpon it; but being humbled in the sight and sense of our owne weakenesse and frailty, wee must wholly rest vpon the power and promises of God, and like the child in the mothers armes, wee must cling vnto him with all our strength, but not so much trust to the firme∣nesse of our hold, as to his clasping of vs, knowing that if he withdraw his strength and leaue vs, we shall soone cease cleauing vnto him, and fall in∣to

those tentations, which the deuill, the world, or our owne flesh shall suggest vnto vs. Wee must say with the Apostle Paul, I am able to doe all * 1.12 things, but we must adde that which followeth, through the power of Christ which strengtheneth me. We must resolue with him, that nothing shall sepa∣rate * 1.13 vs from the loue of God in Iesus Christ, in the meane time acknowledg∣ing our impotencie vnto any good, and that in vs, that is, in our flesh, dwel∣leth no good thing. And so shall our resolution of cleauing vnto God bee much more firme, seeing God resisteth the proud, but giueth grace to the humble; and filleth the hungry with good things, but sendeth the rich empty * 1.14 away. Lastly, our resolution must be firme and constant, neuer leauing to cling vnto the Lord with a liuely faith, till by loue we haue full fruition of him in his Kingdome. It must not be vnsettled, fickle, and by fits, one while resoluing to serue God, and another while drawne from our resolu∣tion by worldly tentations: but we must claspe fast hold of him, as Iacob * 1.15 did in his wrastling, and fully resolue neuer to leaue him, till wee haue our desire, that is, till wee haue full fruition of him in heauen, without feare of losing him. Most of which points I haue handled before, and therefore doe heere thus briefly touch them.

§. Sect. 4 The necessity of our adhe∣ring vnto God, proued by di∣uers reasons.

And this holy resolution of cleauing vnto God, and pleasing him in all things, is most necessary vnto a godly life; first, because it is the foundati∣on and ground of all other duties, which whilst it remaineth firme, there is good hope, though the rest of the building bee shrewdly shaken with the blasts and stormes of trialls and tentations, and much fayling and frail∣ty be shewed in many outward actions; seeing so long as the foundation remaineth, the decayed parts of the house may bee repaired with more ease; but if our resolution be vnsettled and weake, the whole frame that resteth vpon it, will fall with it owne waight; and the duties themselues of a godly life, will seeme irkesome and tedious. It is the very soule which giueth life and motion to all our actions, and in what case it is, in such are they; if strong, then are they strong, if weake, then they weake also. If it be faint, then they languish; If full of vertue and vigour, then are they also vigorous and couragious. Secondly, because it is a mayne and prin∣cipall part of true repentance, which chiefly consisteth in the full purpose of the heart, the inclination and resolution of the will, and the constant indeuour in our whole liues, to forsake all euill, and imbrace all good, and in all things both inwardly and outwardly to please God, by performing vnto him that acceptable seruice, which in his Word he requireth of vs. Thirdly, because this purpose of heart, and resolution of our wills, to serue and please God, doth make both our persons and actions acceptable vnto him; for he chiefly requireth the seruice of our hearts, as being the fountaine of all our actions, and respecteth not so much our deeds as our will; not the perfection of our actions, as the sincerity of our affections; according to that of the Apostle; If there be a willing mind, a man is accepted, * 1.16 according to that which he hath, and not according to that which he hath not. As we see in the example of the prodigall sonne, who resoluing to goe to his * 1.17 father, and to acknowledge his sinne, before he had done it, and whilest he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion on him. To this purpose one saith, If thou purposest in thine heart to leaue euill,

and doe good, to hold that which thou hast receiued, and to grow daily better, although (by reason of humane frailty) thou doest something not to be iustified: Yet if thou purposest not to persist in it, but repentest and amendest what is amisse, as farre as thou art able, God, without doubt, will repute thee holy. Lastly, this resolution is necessary, because we shall meete with many difficulties and discouragements in our course of a god∣ly life, as the tentations of the deuill, the persecutions, scornes, and repro∣ches of the world, the corruptions of our nature, and the vnpleasantnesse vnto flesh and blood of holy duties; that if we be not armed with a strong resolution, well grounded and settled with mature and serious considera∣tion, vpon vnanswerable reasons which induce vnto it, wee shall not bee able to continue constantly in our course, but giue ouer with shame, that which we haue rashly and weakely begunne. And therefore our Sauiour exhorteth vs to lay a good foundation before we begin this building, and * 1.18 to prepare a good stocke, whereby we may be inabled to finish our worke; and to make sufficient preparations to withstand the force of our spirituall enemies, before we presume to enter into the field and giue them battell. The which is chiefly done, when wee arme our selues with Christian cou∣rage and vndaunted resolution, that we will set aside all excuses, and come vnto God when he calleth and inuiteth vs, that wee will breake thorow all difficulties, and bee discouraged with no dangers; that, come prospe∣rity or aduersity, honour or disgrace, riches or pouerty, life or death, wee will consecrate our selues to Gods seruice, and doe all things which are pleasing in his sight.

§. Sect. 5 Of the meanes whereby wee may confirme our resolution of adhering vnto God.

Now the meanes of confirming this resolution of adhering vnto God with all our hearts, and pleasing him in all things, are diuers. First, wee must often meditate on Gods infinite goodnesse in himselfe, whereby hee deserueth the whole heart and affection, with all the seruice of his crea∣tures, and their whole indeuour to glorifie him who is worthy of all loue. Secondly, we must call often to our remembrance his inestimable loue, and exceeding great bountie towards vs, which plainely appeare in our election, creation, preseruation; but especially in that great worke of our redemption, wherein he hath giuen his Sonne to death, that he might saue and restore vs to life and happinesse; as also the speciall and singular fa∣uours which hee hath extended vnto vs in the whole course of our liues: And this, if any thing will make vs resolute to serue and please him, whom wee haue tryed and tasted to bee so infinitely good and gracious vnto vs. Thirdly, wee must meditate seriously on his power and all-sufficiency, whereby he is able, and on the truth of his gracious promises, whereby he hath assured vs, that he is willing to assist vs in all difficulties, and to de∣fend vs against all dangers which shall affront and oppose vs in our Christian course, and in the performance of the duties of a godly life; for what can more strengthen our resolutions in performing faithfull seruice vnto God, then to be assured by his assistance, of victorie ouer all enemies, strength in ouercomming all difficulties, safety in all dangers, and pros∣perous successe and an happie issue of all our indeuours? And thus Mo∣ses exhorteth Iosua to resolution and courage, because God had promised to be with him. He it is (saith hee) that doth goe before thee, he will be with * 1.19

thee, he will not faile thee, neither forsake thee; feare not, neither be dismayed. Fourthly, let vs remember, that it is impossible to lose the fruit & benefit of our labour, whatsoeuer paines we take in Gods seruice; for besides the pre∣sent pay of temporal benefits, we shal haue the rich rewards of eternall and heauenly happinesse, of which, the other are but small earnest pennies and pawnes. So that if we in Gods seruice lose our earthly riches, we shall haue for them heauenly treasures; if our fame and reputation amongst men, we shall be recompenced with eternall glory, in the presence of God, his Saints, and Angels; yea if we lose our life it selfe, in losing, we shall finde it, * 1.20 euen an euerlasting and most happy life, for one that was momentany and miserable. Fifthly, if we would haue this Christian resolution firme and constant, it must be well grounded when we first begin, and wee must ex∣pect, when we enter into the course of a godly life, not the fauour of men, ease and prosperity, but many enemies to encounter vs, and many diffi∣culties and dangers in our Christian way; which if we doe not forecast before they happen, and arme our resolution against them, they will vtter∣ly daunt and discourage vs at their first approching. And therefore be∣fore we make purchase of this gaine of godlinesse, let vs cast before-hand what it will cost vs, and resolue to leaue it at no rate. Sixthly, let vs medi∣tate often of the excellency, vtility, and necessity of a godly life, in which respects it is to be preferred before all worldly things whatsoeuer, seeing thereby, and by no other meanes without it, we are assured of Gods loue and our owne saluation, of his grace in this world, and glory and happi∣nesse in the world to come. Seuenthly, let vs thinke of the preciousnesse of our soules, which are of much more value then ten thousand worlds, and that there is no other meanes to prouide for their eternall happinesse, and their fruition of Gods presence, which perfecteth our blessednesse in hea∣uen, then by framing our hearts to adhere vnto him, with firme resolution to serue and please him whilst wee liue vpon the earth. And let vs often meditate on that speech of our Sauiour, What will it profit a man to win the whole world, and lose his soule? For heere our soules are saued or lost; heere * 1.21 the acceptable time and day of saluation lasteth; which if we let passe, it is neuer againe to be regained, but our precious soules, for the price of mo∣mentany vanities, shall be eternally sold to hellish torments. Lastly, be∣cause our resolution of adhering vnto God, and pleasing him in all things, is apt to faint and languish, therefore our care must be, often to suruey it, that when we finde any faylings or vnsettlednesse in it, we may repaire and strengthen it; yea, in truth this is a worke fit for euery morning, to take a view of our spirituall state, and to renew our resolution, that wee will the day following vse all meanes whereby it may bee improoued and bet∣tered, inrich our selues in our spiritual stocke, and to our vttermost inde∣uour, doe all things which may please God, as wee shall more fully shew heereafter. Yea, if we finde our resolutions weake and vnsettled, we must confirme them, by making with God a solemne Couenant, that our hearts in all things shall adhere vnto him, and start aside vpon no occasion; ac∣cording to the example of Asa, and the rest of Gods people, who entred * 1.22 into a Couenant to seeke the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart, and with all their soule; yea if neede be, wee must confirme this Couenant, not

onely by solemne protestation, but by an inuiolable oath, as they did at that time; and the Prophet Dauid long before them; I haue sworne (saith * 1.23 he) and will performe it, that I will keepe thy righteous iudgements.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Deut 10. 20. & 13. 4. Ios. 22. 5.
• * 1.2

  Act. 13. 23.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 17. 3.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 119, 33, 34.
• * 1.5

  Pro. 13. 4.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 119. 6. Col. 110. Heb. 13. 18.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 63. 8.
• * 1.8

  Ios. 24. 15. Ruth 1. 16.
• * 1.9

  Act. 21. 13.
• * 1.10

  Act. 20. 23, 23,
• * 1.11

  Mat. 26. 33, 34.
• * 1.12

  Phil. 4. 13.
• * 1.13

  Rom. 8. 38, 39. & 7. 14, 15, 18.
• * 1.14

  1. Pet. 5. 5. Luk. 1. 53.
• * 1.15

  Gen. 32. 26.
• * 1.16

  2. Cor. 8. 12.
• * 1.17

  Luk. 15. 19, 20. Et tu si proposue∣••is in corde, de∣clinare à malo, & facere quod bonum est, &c. Bern.
• * 1.18

  Luk. 14. 28, 29, 30.
• * 1.19

  Deut. 31. 8.
• * 1.20

  Mat. 10. 39.
• * 1.21

  Mar. 8. 36.
• * 1.22

  2. Chro. 15. 12, 14 & 34. 31.
• * 1.23

  Psal. 119. 106.