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. 5 The last rea∣son taken from the vnwearied diligence of worldlings, in pursuing of earthly things.

Lastly, the vnwearied diligence of carnall worldlings, in seruing of the world and their owne lusts, for the contemptible hire of earthly vanities, may effectually moue vs to vse the like, or greater, in the seruice of our Master. For howsoeuer they, after their worke is done, are not sure of their wages, or though it bee put into their hands, are not sure to hold it; or though they doe, finde it vaine and of no worth, alwayes vnprofitable, and oftentimes hurtfull and pernicious; yet with what diligence doe they yeeld their seruice? with what affection doe they dote on this golden strumpet? and with what zeale and deuotion doe they commit idolatry with this painted Idoll? For they are content to rise early, and goe late to bed, to consume their spirits with carking care, and their bodies with rest∣lesse labours, both by land and sea, to spend their strength, and to hazard vnto innumerable dangers their health and life, yea the euerlasting salua∣tion of their soules, that they may obtaine riches, pleasures and prefer∣ments, and fill their hearts with these windy vanities, which may puffe them vp, but neuer satisfie them: and therefore how much more doth this diligence become vs in the seruice of God, by performing vnto him all Christian duties, seeing our wages as much exceedeth theirs, as heauen earth, euerlasting excellencies, momentany vanities; the which also are certaine both in payment and possession? So also the double diligence of Idolaters in seruing their Idols, and the care and cost which is spent in their seruice, may make vs ashamed to bee lesse industrious and painfull in the seruice of the true God. For they are ready to breake their sleepe, and rise early, with the Israelites, to doe them seruice, and to offer their ob∣lations; to part with their chiefest ornaments, as their iewels and eare∣rings, their siluer and their gold, for the making and decking of their Ima∣ges; to launce and cut themselues, with Baals priests before their Idols; to doe voluntary penance, and to goe on pilgrimage to stocks and stones;

to consume their strength with watching, that they may performe their superstitious orizons, and to torment and whip their bodies before their Crosse and Crucifix, to strip themselues of all their meanes, to vow volun∣tary pouerty, and with Iezabel, to spare for no cost in maintaining their idolatrous priests, who draw them on, and helpe them forward in their idolatry: And shall we be lesse diligent in the seruice of our good God, from whose blessing and free gift wee haue all things which wee presently inioy, or yet doe hope for in the life to come? Or shall wee thinke any paines, or care, or cost too great, in performing those duties which assure vs of saluation, when as they thinke nothing too much which they doe, or can doe, to nourish their doubtfull and wauering, their false and decei∣uing hopes of their future happinesse? Yea, the diligence of desperate sin∣ners in the seruice of the diuell, by committing of all manner of wicked∣nesse, may make vs blush for shame, to neglect Gods seruice in the duties of holinesse: For they breake their braines in plotting of mischiefes, and spend their strength, and hazard their health and life in effecting them. For (as the Wise man speaketh) They sleepe not except they haue done mis∣chiefe; and their sleepe is taken away, vnlesse they cause some to fall; and wic∣kednesse and violence more cheereth their hearts, then their bread and wine. They serue the diuell oftentimes for nothing, and not seldome, euen to worldly losse, wasting their strength in wanton pleasures, impairing their health with costly gluttony, and loathed carowses, only in a brauery, and hazarding their life by needlesse quarrels, and bloody murthers; be∣sides, the inward torments of minde, heart and conscience, which their vnruly passions, vaine hopes, and false feares, friuolous anger, and lustfull loue, fretting enuy, and reuengefull malice doe bring vpon them. By all which courses, though they haue no wages for their worke; yet (as the Prophet speaketh) they are willing euen to weary themselues to commit ini∣quity. And shall they be thus diligent in seruing the diuell that mortally hateth them, and shall wee bee negligent in Gods seruice, who hath so dearely loued vs? Shall they thinke the greatest paines too little in taking these wicked courses, which doe but seale vp vnto them their certaine de∣struction; and shall wee thinke any paines too great in performing such holy duties as will assure vs of eternall saluation? Finally, let the diuels di∣ligence in dishonouring God, and seeking to depriue vs of grace and glo∣ry, that he may plunge vs into euerlasting perdition, make vs studious and industrious in seeking to glorifie God in our saluation. For as himselfe witnesseth, He compasseth the earth continually to and fro, to spy out all ad∣uantages against vs, first, drawing vs to sinne, and then accusing vs for it: and as the Apostle Peter testifieth, He walketh about as a roring Lion, seeking whom he may deuoure. And shal not we vse like, or greater diligence in pre∣seruing our selues out of his danger; in keeping our soules and bodies ho∣ly and vndefiled, that being vnblameable, they may not bee damnified by his accusations; and in imploying our time in such holy and Christian duties, as will inrich our hearts with all sauing graces, strengthen vs to withstand all Satans tentations, confirme our assurance, and further vs in the fruition of heauenly happinesse?

Notes

• Deut. 32. 6.
• Prou. 4. 16.
• Ier. 9. 5.
• Iob 1. 7.
• 1. Pet. 5. 8.