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. 4 That we must in our solitari∣nesse beware of sinfull acti∣ons and secret sinnes.

Finally, though our mindes and hearts doe sometimes breake thorow the watch at vnawares, yet at least let vs not so negligently keepe it, as to

be ouertaken in our actions with any grosse sinne, as either by spending our time in idlenesse without any imployment, because there is none to take notice of our sloth, or by committing any sinne which wee would bee loth to doe if wee were in company, and had the eyes of men to looke vpon vs. And to this end let vs consider, that in the greatest solitude wee haue God present to beare vs company, who beholdeth our most secret actions, not as an idle spectatour, but as a righteous Iudge, who will call all our workes to account, to reward them if they be good, or to punish them if they be euill; and what extreme folly and madnesse is it, to make no scruple of committing those sinnes in the presence of our Iudge, which with all care wee hide from our fellowes, who, it may be, are guilty of the same or like crimes? Let vs also consider, that we carry our owne consciences euer about vs, which are such witnesses as will not bee bribed and corrupted, but will one day giue in true euidence before Gods Tribunall, either to acquit or condemne vs; besides all those present accusations wherewith they are alwayes ready to vpbraide vs after our ill∣doing, and those horrours and terrours wherewith they affright vs, after we haue wounded them with knowne, wilfull, and haynous sinnes; if at least by impudencie in sinning and customable wickednesse, they be not for the time seared and senselesse. Let vs remember, that there is nothing hid which shall not bee made manifest, and that all our workes and actions which are done in the most secret corners, shall, as our Sauiour speaketh, be proclaimed vpon the house tops; yea shall one day come to be viewed and scanned before all the holy Saints and Angels, and be either applau∣ded and commended, or else derided and condemned. Finally, that it is grosse hypocrisie to seeme more carefull and conscionable of our workes and wayes, when we are in company and in the sight of men, then when we are alone and in the presence of God; the which abuse of his Maiesty hee will not indure, but will, vnlesse wee repent of it, pull off the vayle and vizard of hypocrisie, and lay open our nakednesse and filthinesse to the view of the world. Or if he forbeare vs so long, yet will hee not faile to vncase and vnmaske vs at the day of Iudgement, and giue vs our por∣tion with the rest of our fellow hypocrites, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Notes

• 1. Cor. 5. 10.
• Mat. 10. 26, 27.
• Mat. 24. 51.