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 The second thing is, that we adhere vn∣to him with our hearts and affections.

Secondly, vnto this daily exercise of seeking God, it is required, that wee doe continually adhere and cleaue vnto him with our hearts and af∣fections; that wee labour and indeuour daily more and more to weane them from the world and worldly vanities, that they may wholly be fixed and fastned vpon him, not affecting and doting vpon earthly and momen∣tany trifles which profit not, but minding spirituall and heauenly excel∣lencies, and seeking those things which are aboue, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God; and that we doe not carry our selues as Citizens of the earth, where we haue no abiding place, but that we haue our con∣uersation in heauen, from whence wee expect a Sauiour and Redeemer. More especially, wee must withdraw our affiance and trust from the arme of flesh, and earthly helpes and props, which will most faile vs when wee most rely vpon them; and fasten them wholly vpon God the immoueable Rocke of our saluation, and our chiefe Tower of strength, resting vpon him at all times, and for all things; prouision in time of want, protection in time of danger, as well in the absence as presence of all inferiour meanes; knowing that he is infinitely gracious, and all-sufficient to pre∣serue

and defend vs without, as well as with them. Wee must also fasten our hopes daily vpon God, who is the sure anchor-hold that will stay and secure vs against all the stormes of troubles and tentations; and daily comfort our selues in our earthly pilgrimage, and take incouragement in the performance of all good duties, euen when wee are crossed in them, and persecuted for them of the world, by continuall renewing our ex∣pectation of the performance of Gods gracious promises, especially those that concerne a better life, which will make vs to purge our selues, as he al∣so is pure, and not to doe any thing which may any way hazard our hea∣uenly happinesse. Moreouer, wee must labour daily that the true feare of the Lord may more and more possesse our hearts, making vs to reuerence him as our heauenly Father, and to stand in awe of him as our supreme Lord and King. By which sonne-like & holy feare, we shalbe more power∣fully restrained from all sinne, because it is displeasing vnto our louing Fa∣ther, then by all humane lawes, shame of men, or the sharpest and seuerest punishments; and inticed with more cheerefulnesse vnto all Christian du∣ties, because they are pleasing in his sight, then by all earthly hopes or temporary rewards. By it all other seruile feare of men will bee expelled, because when they haue done their worst, they can but kill the body; and when they haue most seuerely whipped vs, put a Pasport into our hands, for our more speedy conducting into our heauenly Countrey: and fearing onely God, we shall become bold and couragious in all good duties, and not caring greatly what men can say or doe, we will yeeld absolute obedi∣ence vnto Gods Commandements, and submit our selues in all things to be ruled by his Word and holy Spirit. And so shall wee approoue our selues to be true Israelites, sound members of the Church, and loyall sub∣iects of Christs Kingdome; of whom it is prophecied, that they shall re∣turne and seeke the Lord their God, and Dauid their King, and shall feare the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter dayes.

Notes

• Col. 3. 1, 2.
• Phil. 3. 20.
• Psal. 18. 1. Pro. 18. 10.
• 1. Ioh. 3. 2, 3.
• Mal. 1. 6.
• Hos. 3. 5.