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 last means of perseue∣rance, is Prayer.

Lastly, if we would perseuere in the duties of a godly life vnto saluation, we must remember, that it is not a thing in our owne power, but the free gift of God, and therefore if we would haue it, we must continually beg it at his hands by feruent and effectuall prayer. For as it is he alone that gi∣ueth vnto vs the spirituall life of Grace, who were naturally dead in trespas∣ses and sinnes; so it is he onely that can preserue vs in it. And if he openeth * 1.1 his gracious hand, we shall be nourished and filled with all good; but if hee hideth his face from vs, wee shall presently be troubled, and perish in our for∣mer state of sinne and infidelity. It is he that worketh in vs both to will and * 1.2 to doe, of his good pleasure; and wee who are able to doe nothing of our selues, are inabled to doe all things through Christ which strengthen∣eth vs. It is hee that beginneth the good worke of grace in vs, and hee onely can performe and finish it vntill the day of Iesus Christ. It is he alone, * 1.3

that is able to keepe vs from falling, as the Apostle Iude speaketh, and to pre∣serue * 1.4 vs faultlesse, before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy. We can no more walke in our owne strength in the wayes of godlinesse, then Peter could vpon the waters: but it is the power of Christs Word, that suppor∣teth vs, and keepeth vs from sinking, and his gracious promises of his helpe and assistance, by which we are stayed. It is not our apprehending him, but his apprehending vs and holding vs in his hand that preserueth * 1.5 vs from falling; for our weake and childish hold would soone faile, though we cling vnto him by a liuely faith, if he tooke not surer hold of vs, and (as it were) carried vs like a louing Father in the armes of his prouidence. Nei∣ther doe we chiefly perseuere, because wee are faithfull vnto God, but be∣cause he is faithfull vnto vs, and will stablish and keepe vs from all euill. Our * 1.6 owne strength would not stay vs from being forcibly carried away with the violent tentations of our spirituall enemies; but it is our Sauiour Christ that keepeth vs, who hauing receiued from his Father all power in heauen and earth, is stronger then all, and none shall bee able to plucke vs out of his and his Fathers hands. It is he that confirmeth vs vnto the end, that we may * 1.7 bee blamelesse vnto the Day of our Lord Iesus Christ. The promises of God which in Christ are yea and Amen, vnto the glory of God by vs, are they which stablish vs in him; and it is hee that hath sealed vs, and giuen vs the * 1.8 earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. And therefore if wee would perseuere in grace and in the wayes of godlinesse, we must beg it at Gods hands, and pray for our selues, as the Apostle for the Colossians, that he will replenish * 1.9 vs with knowledge of his will in all wisedome, that wee may walke worthy the Lord vnto all pleasing, being fruitfull in euery good worke, and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, vnto all patience and long-suffering with ioyfulnesse. And as he prayeth for the Thessalonians; that the Lord will make vs to increase and abound in loue, * 1.10 to the end that he may stablish our hearts vnblameable in holinesse before God, vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ, with all his Saints.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 104. 18, 19.
• * 1.2

  Phil. 2. 13. & 4. 13.
• * 1.3

  Phil. 1. 6.
• * 1.4

  Iude v. 24.
• * 1.5

  Phil. 3. 12. Esa. 41. 13.
• * 1.6

  2. Thes. 3. 3. 1. Cor. 1. 9. 1. Thes. 5. 24. Mat. 28. 18. Iob. 10. 28, 29.
• * 1.7

  1. Cor. 1. 8. Esa. 54. 10.
• * 1.8

  2. Cor. 1. 21, 22.
• * 1.9

  Col. 1. 10, 11.
• * 1.10

  1. Thes. 3. 13.