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 Of the helpes inabling vs to leade a godly life.

HAuing shewed what the godly life is, and the du∣ties wherein it consisteth, with the properties be∣longing to them, which serue as way-markes and signes, whereby wee may know that wee are in a right course; it now remaineth, that wee intreat both of the helpes whereby we may be furthered in the wayes of godlinesse, and also of the impe∣diments, which hindring vs in our Christian course, are to bee carefully remooued out of the way, if we would trauell in it with any ease and comfort, and come hap∣pily to the end of our iourneys. For as they who are to run a race for a corruptible crowne, thinke it not sufficient to know perfectly the way, with the nature and properties of it, as whether it be long or short; vp, or downe the hill; rough or plaine: but also carefully vse all helpes which may further them in the race, and remooue all impediments which may hinder their speed, and frustrate their hopes of comming seasonably to the goale, and winning the Garland: so must we all take the same course in running of the spirituall Race of a godly life, that we may obtaine that Crowne which is heauenly and immortall. The helpes whereby wee may bee furthered and inabled to leade a godly life, are either the meanes which tend to the aduancing of it; or the arguments and reasons which may induce and per∣swade vs to vse them, and to practise all Christian and holy duties in the whole course of our liues & cōuersation. The meanes respect either directi∣on or practice: The former consisting in certaine rules which are to be ob∣serued, that we may profitably proceed in the wayes of godlines: The other in wel vsing of certaine special meanes which God hath ordained & sancti∣fied to this end, that they may inrich vs with his spirituall & sauing graces, & strengthen vs to the performing of those Christian duties which belong

to a godly life. The rules to bee obserued, haue either reference to such things as belong to all Christian duties, or to the duties themselues.