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. 1 That constan∣cie is an inse∣parable com∣panion of in∣tegrity.

ANd thus we see what that constancie which is required in the duties of a godly life, and the vices which wee are to shunne as opposite vnto it. The arguments which may mooue vs to this constancie, are many, some whereof I will briefly touch. The first reason is, because it is an inseparable companion of integrity and vprightnesse of heart; For if in sincerity and truth wee performe seruice vnto God, out of our loue and obedience to his will, then these motiues alwayes remayning, will make vs constant in doing of it. Whereas if in hypocrisie we formally performe any duties, being mooued thereunto by worldly respects, then doth our obedience last no longer then they last, and as they are variable and subiect to many changes, so shall wee likewise change with them; according to that of the Apostle Iames; A double minded man is vnstable in all his wayes. Secondly, if we be not constant in the duties of a godly life, all the paines which wee take by fits will be spent in vaine; seeing we shall vndoe that one day which wee did the day before, and like foolish builders, one while setting vp, and ano∣ther while pulling downe, we shall not be edified in our faith and sancti∣fication, and after much time spent, bee neuer the neerer the finishing of our worke. For though at some times we row neuer so strongly against the tyde and streame of our corruption, yet when wee intermit our labour, and giue our selues to sloth and negligence, they will carry vs downe a∣gaine as farre from the Hauen of our hopes, as we were at the beginning. Of which, we haue lamentable experience in many ancient professors, who through this inconstancie in religious duties, stand at a stay (like dwarses,

whose age brings no growth) neither increasing in knowledge, faith, and other sauing graces, nor in bringing foorth of the fruits of them in their liues and conuersation. If therefore wee would spend our paines to any purpose, let vs not onely begin well, but continue the worke of our sancti∣fication, till we haue perfected our holinesse in the feare of God, as the Apostle exhorteth. If we would be true Nazarites consecrated to Gods seruice, we must not be holy by fits, but fulfill the dayes of our sanctification, and sepa∣rating our selues from all sinfull pollution, we must be holy to the Lord. For as in legall purifications, though a man obserued neuer so strictly some dayes allotted to his clensing, yet if hee failed in any one, though it were the very last, and defiled himselfe with any legall pollution, all his former labour was spent in vaine, and the worke was new to begin againe: so is it also in our spirituall purifying, and in our sanctifying and consecrating our selues to Gods worship and seruice. Thirdly, the benefits which arise from this constancie, may perswade vs to imbrace it; for by continuance in the Word of Christ, we approoue our selues to be his Disciples indeed. Wee shall with much ease performe all Christian duties, when by our constan∣cie we haue brought our selues to an habit. And as all things which are put into a state of motion, doe continue moouing with great facility and little helpe; and if it be intermitted, requireth much more strength and paines to begin it againe, then it would haue required to haue continued it in that state; so if we be continually inured to the duties of a godly life, they will be easie and familiar vnto vs whilest this spirituall motion continueth, but if it be broken off and intermitted, it is a new worke to begin againe, and will not be renewed to the former state, without much indeuour and great difficulty. It is easie to keepe that armour bright which is daily vsed, but vse it onely by some fits, and hang it by the walls till it be rusty, and it cannot, without much labour in skowring it, be restored againe to its for∣mer brightnesse. If the Instrument be daily played vpon, it is easily kept in tune by the skilfull Musician, but let it but a while be neglected & cast in a corner, the strings and frets breake, and the bridge flyeth off, and no small labour is required to bring it into order. And thus also it is in spirituall things, which are kept in an easie and orderly course, with one halfe of the paines, if wee continue them with a settled constancie. Finally, this con∣stancy in holy duties giueth vs assurance of all Gods promises, according to that of the Apostle; We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast vnto the end; and that couenant made with Dauid in the behalfe of his sonne Salomon: I will establish his Kingdome for euer, if he be constant to doe my Commandements and my iudgements as at this day: and by Gods gracious and free promise giueth vs iust title to spirituall and heauenly rewards: For he will render to euery man according to his deeds. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seeke for glory, and honour, and immortality; eternall life, as the Apostle speaketh.

Notes

• Iam. 1. 8.
• 2. Cor. 7. 1.
• Num. 6. 5, 8.
• Num. 19. 11, 12.
• Ioh. 8. 31.
• Heb. 3. 14.
• 1. Chro. 28. 7.
• Rom. 2. 6, 7.