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. I.

That the duties of a godly life ought daily and constantly to be performed, and not by fits and spurts onely.

§. Sect. 1 That the du∣ties contained in the former Booke, are to be performed daily and con∣stantly vpon euery fit occa∣sion.

AND thus haue wee intreated of the du∣ties which are to bee performed of all those who desire to leade a godly and Christian life. Now we are to shew how all these duties of piety, righteousnesse, and sobriety, are to be daily and conti∣nually exercised of vs, so farre foorth as our callings and occasions, meanes and opportunity will suffer and inable vs. Neither is it possible that all these duties should be performed by euery man, see∣ing diuers of them are appropriate to diuers persons, sexes, and callings; in which respect, the subiect is not tied to performe the duties of the Prince, nor the Prince of the subiect; the husband of the wife, nor the wife of the husband, &c. nor yet that all duties, common to all Christians, should be performed euery day, see∣ing many times we want fit obiects to exercise them vpon, as also conueni∣ent time and leasure, ability and opportunity. But this is required of vs, that at no time we commit any thing against the holy Law of God, or thinke that any time, company, or other circumstance, can make sinne seasonable; nor yet omit any of the former duties, when God requireth them at our hands, giuing vs fit obiects, occasions, meanes, and ability to performe them: And that not onely some spare time bee allotted to these Christian duties, taking liberty to spend the remainder of our dayes after our owne sinfull lusts, or in the vnlawfull and base seruice of the world, and the prince thereof, for the worthlesse hire of earthly vanities; but we must bee wholly taken vp of them, and bee still exercised in the practice of some one or other of them, as shall be most conuenient, and

will best sort with the aduancing of the glory of God, and the spirituall and temporall good of our selues and our neighbours, in respect of meanes and occasions offered vnto vs. Neither must we thinke it sufficient vnto a godly life to reserue his Sabbaths for Gods seruice, and spend the rest of the weeke in the seruice of the world and our owne lusts; nor that we serue him in some things, and these in others; nor on some other dayes besides the Sabbath, or some part onely of euery day, reseruing the rest to liue as we list. But wee must constantly and continually, in euery thing, and at euery time, performe seruice vnto God in all our actions, and throughout our whole course and conuersation; not onely in abstaining from all sinne which he hath forbidden, but also in performing of some Christian duty of holinesse, righteousnesse, and sobriety, which he hath commanded, or in vsing the meanes whereby wee may be inabled vnto them. Neither is God alone serued, when we performe some religious act, as praying, hea∣ring the Word, singing Psalmes, or some eminent workes of charity and sobriety, but also in the meanest duties of the basest calling, yea euen in our eating and drinking, lawfull sports and recreations, when as wee doe them in faith, which not onely assureth vs that these actions are comman∣ded of God and warranted by his Word, but that we and our workes are accepted of him; and so inableth vs to doe them with cheerefulnesse and delight, as being not chiefly the seruice of men but of God. And also when in doing these our ordinary businesses which belong to our callings, wee doe repose our trust and affiance in God, that hee will blesse vs in them, and giue them such successe, as shall be most for his glory and our good; and inioy the fruit and benefit of them, as blessings sent from God with praise and thankesgiuing. And when as in them we haue an eye and due respect to God, seeking in them chiefly his glory, and doing them in loue and obedience to his Commandements; and not for necessity only, praise or profit, feare of punishment, or hope of reward, which though we may respect secondarily and in some degree, in the ordinary actions of our liues, yet not first and principally, if we would be accounted to doe God seruice in them. And in the next place, to our owne and our neighbours mutuall good, especially the inriching of vs with spirituall graces, and the euerlasting saluation of their and our owne soules.

§. Sect. 2 That no time is exempted from Gods ser∣uice, prooued first by testi∣monies of Scripture.

In which generall sense if we take the seruice of God, and thus largely with these references, vnderstand the Christian duties of a godly life, then is there no day, houre, or minute, wherein we are not to bee exercised in some of them. And this appeareth both by testimonies of Scriptures and firme reasons. The Scriptures require that our whole liues be spent in the seruice of God, and that we daily performe vnto him the duties of holi∣nesse, righteousnesse, and sobriety. So the Apostle would haue vs to walke daily, according as God hath directed vs, and make his Word the rule of our conuersation, from which we must neuer swarue, neither on the right hand nor on the left; and to keepe a continuall watch ouer our selues, lest there be at any time in any of vs an euill heart of vnbeliefe, in departing from the liuing God; and to exhort one another daily, whilst it is called to day, lest any of vs should be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne. The Apostle Pe∣ter perswadeth vs to passe the whole time of our soiourning heere in the

feare of God, and not some part of it onely, which we can best spare, and that we liue no longer, the rest of our time in the flesh, according to the lusts of men, but the will of God, seeing the time past of our liues may be enough, yea farre too much, to haue walked and wrought after the will of the Gentiles. The grace of God appearing, hath taught vs to deny all vngodlinesse and worldly lusts, and to liue soberly, righteously, and godly, whilest wee continue in this present world. And therefore hath the Lord redeemed vs, that being deliuered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serue him without feare, in holinesse and righteousnesse before him, all the dayes of our life. Of which, we haue also ex∣amples in the Scriptures, in the Saints and seruants of God, who after their conuersion, passed their whole time in his feare, and spent their strength, in doing vnto him continuall seruice. So Enoch is said to haue walked with God, that is, in the whole course of his pilgrimage to haue kept him in his sight, and to haue carried himselfe in all his actions as in his pre∣sence, that he might be accepted of him. And Dauid, as he maketh it a marke of a blessed man, to meditate and exercise himselfe in the Law of God day and night, so doth he in many places shew that it was his owne practice. My mouth (saith he) shall shew foorth thy righteousnesse and thy saluation all the day, for I know not the numbers thereof. Euening, and mor∣ning, and at noone, will I pray and cry aloud. O how loue I thy Law! it is my meditation all the day. I haue inclined my heart to performe thy Statutes alway, euen vnto the end. Euery day will I blesse thee, and will praise thy name for euer and euer. So the Apostle saith of the whole Church of the Iewes, that they did instantly serue God day night: and particularly of himselfe, that it was his continuall exercise to haue alwayes a good conscience, voide of offence towards God and towards men. But the best president of all for our imitation, is our Sauiour Christ, who spent his whole time in doing the workes of him that sent him, in the day time preaching and doing miracles and workes of mercie, that he might bring saluation vnto the lost sheepe of the house of Israel, and in the night sequestring himselfe for prayer & meditation in the mount of Oliues. Secondly, God hath giuen his Law, not that we should sometimes obserue his Commandements, and sometimes breake them, but that we might obserue them daily and continually, in all things and at all times; and that it might serue as a rule and squire, according vnto which we are to frame our whole liues, and euery particular action. For there he prescribeth duties to be performed at all times; on his Sabbath, and on the sixe dayes besides, the generall duties which belong to all, and those that respect vs in our particular callings; the duties of piety, where∣by we offer vnto him immediate seruice; and of righteousnesse and sobrie∣tie, whereby we serue him mediately, in doing the duties which hee hath commanded towards our neighbours and our selues, because in doing them, we obey him. Whereby it appeareth, that there ought to bee no time nor any action of our liues exempted from Gods seruice, seeing hee hath giuen vs his Law, to serue for our direction at all times and in all things. Finally, the Word of God giueth vnto vs directions and rules, according to which wee are to frame our whole liues, both in respect of persons and callings, as the duties of superiours and inferiours, fathers and children, magistrates and people, domesticall and politicall, towards God,

themselues, and one another; and also in respect of euery part of the day, for the well beginning, continuing, and ending of it, and of all states and conditions, whether we be merry and cheerefull, or sad and sorrowfull, in sicknesse or in health, in poore or rich estate, prosperity or aduersity; to shew vnto vs that there is no time or state, wherein any man is left to his owne liberty to liue as he list, but that continually and in all conditions, euery man is bound to conforme his life in euery particular action, accor∣ding to Gods reuealed will. To which end, wee are inioyned at all times to meditate and speake of Gods Law and Commandements, to haue them in our hearts, to teach them vnto our children, at home and abroad, at our lying downe, and at our rising vp, and to binde them for a signe vpon our hands, and as frontlets betweene our eyes. And so the Wiseman com∣mandeth, that we binde them continually vpon our hearts, and tye them about our neckes; because when we goe, it shall leade vs, when we sleepe, it shall keepe vs, and when we awake, it shall talke with vs; the Law being such a lampe and light, as is sufficient to guide and direct vs in all our wayes.

§. Sect. 3 Diuers reasons proouing the necessity of the daily exercise of a godly life.

Secondly, this daily practice of all Christian duties, in the whole course of our liues, and in euery particular action of them, may be inforced with these reasons; first, because the Lord hath created and redeemed, and doth continually preserue vs to this end, that we should spend our whole liues in his seruice, by performing the duties of holinesse and righteousnesse; and not some part onely, reseruing the rest for the seruice of the world, and the satisfying of our carnall lusts. Secondly, he giueth vnto vs the conti∣nuall wages of his blessings and benefits for the present, and hath promi∣sed to giue vnto vs the euerlasting reward of heauenly happinesse in the life to come, not that we should doe our owne wills and workes, much lesse of his professed enemies, but that wee approoue our selues and our seruice vnto him in all things, who hath giuen vnto vs this rich wages; and chiefly respect his glory in whatsoeuer we doe, either in his immediate ser∣uice, or in performing the duties which he hath commanded vs towards our neighbours and our owne persons; seeing wee are bought at an high price, that we might no longer be our owne, but his, and glorifie him both in our soules and body, by offering vnto him that seruice which he requi∣reth. Thirdly, seeing it is the best wisedome to imploy all and euery of our actions to the best purpose, and no time is so well imployed as in Gods seruice, whether we respect God our chiefe Goodnesse, to whose glory all should tend, as vnto their supreme end, or our owne saluation, which by this and no other meanes can be assured vnto vs; and contrariwise, the greatest folly to spend our liues or any part of them in vaine, to no pur∣pose or profit, as all that time is, which is not taken vp in Gods seruice, by performing some duty of piety, righteousnesse, or sobriety, seeing those maine ends, at which we ought in all things to aime, namely, Gods glory in our owne saluation, are not hereby aduanced and furthered, but crossed and hindred. Fourthly, to be daily exercised in Christian duties, is the best meanes to keepe our soules in good plight and state, by nouri∣shing in them all sauing graces; for as it is not enough to keepe our bo∣dies in a good case and habitude, that we preserue the vigour and strength of them, by seasonable and conuenient foode, vnlesse wee also digest it,

and confirme our strength by fit exercise; so for the preseruing of our soules in good state, it is not sufficient that we nourish Gods graces in vs, by hearing the Word, and feeding on this spirituall Manna, vnlesse wee daily exercise them in the performance of all Christian duties. And as it is the best meanes to preserue our soules in health, when they are well, so also to recouer them, when through surfets in sinne, it declineth and is im∣paired; whereas if we haue onely some generall purposes of liuing Chri∣stianly, or performe these duties but by fits and starts; wee shall easily fall into spirituall consumptions of grace, and dangerous sicknesses of sinne before we be aware, and when they haue by neglect and customable con∣tinuing in them taken fast hold of vs, wee shall either not recouer, or at least, with great difficultie.

§. Sect. 4 The many and great dangers which follow the neglect of this daily exer∣cise.

Fifthly, we may bee mooued to this daily and continuall exercise, by consideration of the many and great dangers which doe accompany the neglect of it; first, because we shall mooue the Lord to withdraw from vs his graces, when as we are secure & slothfull in the exercise of them. For he giueth vnto vs these spirituall Talents, not that we should wastefully misspend them, or idlely tye them vp (as it were) in a napkin, and cast them in a corner, where they doe no good; but that we should by imploying, improoue them to the glory of our Master, and good of our selues and our fellow-seruants; which when we neglect to doe, he will take them from vs, and giue them vnto others, who will vse them to more purpose and profit. And thus Dauid growing secure, and beginning through sloth to remit something of his spirituall exercises, in which he had beene former∣ly zealous, was left vnto himselfe to fall into tentation, God withdrawing the assistance of his grace and holy Spirit, and so was ouertaken of foule and grosse sinnes. Secondly, without this daily exercise wee shall soone fall off from all power of godlinesse, and grow by degrees from bad to worse, till there be no prints of goodnesse remaining in vs. For our course and proceedings in piety is no naturall motion, but against the current and streame, winde and tide of our corruption; and therefore we must at no time intermit our labour, for so we shall in short time be carried fur∣ther backe, then we can recouer in a great space and with much labour; but we must be in continuall exercise, and (as it were) with vnwearied di∣ligence ply the oare, vntill by death we arriue at the hauen of happinesse. Our hearts, like the plummets of a clocke, draw vs with the waight of their corruption downeward, till they pitch themselues and rest vpon earthly vanities, vnlesse euery day, yea many times a day, we pull them vp, and giue spirituall motion vnto them by these Christian exercises. Thirdly, sinne is so wily and deceitfull, that if we cease from the duties of a Chri∣stian life, and intermit the keeping of a straight watch ouer our selues and actions, it will soone steale vpon vs, and fortifie it selfe against all vertue and goodnesse. For though at the first it seemeth content, that we should but for a little space displace good duties, and giue but a little way for a small while to the pleasures of it, yet it will increase in strength, comming to liue (as it were) in its old home and proper element, and hardly leaue its hold, or giue way to the re-entry of those vertues and Christian duties which it formerly expelled. In which regard we shall be blessed, if fearing

alwayes, we stand continually vpon our watch, and not onely keepe our soules strongly manned with sauing graces, but take care that they may be daily trained and exercised in all Christian duties, that so we may not be beguiled and hardned through the deceitfulnesse of sinne. Lastly, there is no lesse danger from outward enemies, the world and the deuill, if we neg∣lect the daily exercise of a godly life. For the world, if it once finde our hearts Dina-like, straying from God, will easily rauish and defile them with her filthy pleasures; and when we haue beene at some time inticed to accompany her fauourites in the delights of sinne, wee shall hardly get out of their imbracements, nor purge our selues from that pollution wherewith they haue tainted vs. The deuill also like a malicious enemy walketh about continually, and as a roaring Lyon seeketh to deuoure vs; and if he finde vs at any time cleane swept of Gods graces, and garnished with the hellish ornaments of vices and sinne, he will enter into vs, and taking possession, reserue vs for his owne vse. And therefore it behoueth vs with like diligence to preuent his wiles and malice, by keeping our soules continually furnished with Gods graces, and our selues exercised in all Christian duties, that so we may neuer be at leasure to admit of his ten∣tations. And seeing this euill one is ready, euen whilst we sleepe, to sow his tares of tentations in our hearts (a ground too fruitfull for such a graine) our care must be with like diligence, to cast out this hellish seede, that it take no rooting, or if it haue, to weede them out as soone as they haue sprouted vp, and doe outwardly appeare in our words or actions.

§. Sect. 5 Another rea∣son taken from our calling and profession.

The sixth reason to mooue vs to this daily exercise, is taken from our calling and profession; for wee are Citizens of heauen, and pilgrims on earth, and therefore though our bodies are here beneath, yet our conuersa∣tion should be in heauen, and our minds and affections should be on things aboue; our speeches should bee of those things that concerne our owne countrey, and in all our actions we must indeuour to further our iourney towards our heauenly home; neither must we one while goe forward, and another while backward, or idlely sit still; we must not one part of the day goe in the right way, and in another part erre and wander in the by-wayes of sinne, but we must be still going forward and holding the right roade, neuer turning out of it, till we come to our heauenly home. We are cal∣led to be Gods seruants, and therefore we must not deuide our seruice be∣tweene him and the world, seeing it is fit wee doe onely his worke from whom we receiue so liberall wages; neither can we serue God and Mam∣mon which are of so contrary a disposition: but whilst wee incline to the one, we must of necessity neglect the other, as our Sauiour hath taught vs. We are called to be his Souldiers, and therefore we must onely fight his battels, and not spend some part of our life and strength in his seruice, and some part in fighting on the deuils side, by quenching the good motions of Gods Spirit, and contrary to the light of our owne knowledge and consciences, neglect holy duties, and runne on in such courses as are dis∣pleasing vnto God. We are called to be Gods labourers; and therefore we must intend our businesse, that it may prosper in our hand, and not vndoe in one day, that which we haue done in another. We must not, like vnskil∣full husbandmen, sometimes plant, and soone after plucke them vp, one

while sow good seed, & another while tares; nor like foolish builders, pull down one day, what we haue set vp in another; nor like vnfaithful Watch∣men, one while sit in the watch Tower, and soone after slothfully sleep, and giue ouer our charge; nor like carelesse Pilots, guide the ship one day to∣ward the wished hauen, and the next, through sloth and negligence, let it roame whither the winde and tide will carry it, till it run vpon the sands, & split it selfe against the rocks: But we must in the whole & daily course of our liues, giue all diligence to make our calling and election sure, by holding a constant and continuall course, in the Christian exercises of a godly life.

§. Sect. 6 The last reason taken from the vncertainty of our liues.

The last reason to mooue vs vnto the continuall and daily exercise of Christian duties, is taken from the vncertainty of our liues, and when by death wee shall bee called to Iudgement; For seeing wee know not at what time our Master will come, it shall bee our wisedome to keepe our accounts alwayes euen, that wee may be ready at all times without feare, to yeeld vp our reckonings; and to carry our selues conti∣nually, like wise and faithfull seruants, in the exercise of holy, righteous, and Christian duties, that so we may bee blessed, when our Lord com∣ming vpon the sudden, shall finde vs so doing: and because we are vncer∣taine when the Bridegroome will come; let vs, like the fiue wise Virgins, haue our lampes and oyle of faith, and lights of a godly life alwayes pre∣pared, that so we may enter with him into the marriage Chamber of hea∣uenly happinesse, and there eternally solace our selues in the fruition of his loue; lest comming vpon the sudden, in an houre that wee thinke not, and taking vs vnprouided, without the lampe of profession, or the oyle of grace, or the light of an holy conuersation; either hunting after worldly profits and preferments by vnlawfull meanes, or with immoderate desires, or wallowing our selues in fleshly delights, he shut vs out of dores, and vtterly exclude vs from hauing any communion, or interest with him in those heauenly ioyes.

Notes

• 1. Cor. 10. 31.
• Gal. 6. 16. Psal. 119. 9. Ios. 1. 7.
• Deut. 5. 32. Heb. 3. 12, 13.
• 1. Pet. 1. 17. Pro. 28. 14.
• 1. Pet. 4. 2.
• Tit. 2. 11, 12.
• Luk. 1. 74, 75.
• Gen. 5. 22.
• Psal. 1. 1, 2.
• Psal. 71. 15. Psal. 55. 17. Psa. 119. 97, 11••. & 145. 2. Act. 26. 7. & 2. 46.
• Act. 24. 16.
• Psal. 119. 9.
• Ios. 1. 8. 1. Tim. 2. 1.
• Iam. 5. 13. 1. Thes. 5. 16, 17, 18. 1. Cor. 10. 31. Iam. 1. 15. Luk. 9. 23. Deut. 4. 30. Psal. 50. 15.
• Deut. 6. 8.
• Pro. 6. 21, 22.
• Psal. 119. 105.
• 1. Cor. 6. 20. Rom. 12. 1.
• Matth. 5. 16. 2. Pet. 1. 10.
• 2. Sam. 11. 2.
• Pro. 28. 14.
• Matth. 26. 41. 2. Tim. 4. 5. Heb. 3. 13.
• Iob 1. 7.
• 1. Pet. 5 8.
• Matth. 12. 44.
• Matth. 13. 25.
• Phil. 3. 20. Col. 3. 2.
• Mat. 6. ••4.
• 2. Pet. 1. 10.
• Mat. 24. 46.
• Mat. 25. 1, 2.
• Mat. 24. 44.