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.

CAP. XI.

Of the ends at which we must ayme in the Christian watch.

§. Sect. 1 Of three spe∣ciall ends of our Christian watch.

ANd these are the things wherein our Christian watch chiefly consisteth, and about which it is exercised. The next point to be considered, is, the ends at which wee must principally ayme in it, the which are diuers. The first and chiefe is, that we may please God in all things, for which vse, this watch is most profitable and necessary. For seeing naturally our wayes are whol∣ly corrupt, so as wee can please him in nothing, it is not possible, with∣out singular care and circumspection, that wee should so carry our selues in our whole conuersation, as that all our actions may bee acceptable in his sight. Secondly, wee must thus watch ouer our selues, that wee may daily more and more mortifie our corruptions, especially those which beare greatest sway in vs; and that wee may auoyd all manner of actuall transgressions, and those, aboue all the rest, wherewith wee haue beene most often ouertaken, because Satan and our owne corruption are most ready to vse those weapons of iniquity to foyle and ouercome vs, which they haue found by experience most potent to preuaile against vs. Nor must we thinke any sinne so small that wee may neglect it, seeing the least is strong enough to make way for greater. Neither must we onely watch∣fully auoyd the sinnes themselues, but also all the occasions and meanes which may allure and draw vs vnto them. For where God hath forbid∣den any vice, there hee also forbiddeth the occasions and meanes of it, which if wee neglect and runne wilfully into tentations, it is iust with God, when we thus tempt him, to withdraw his grace, and to leaue vs to the Tempter; and then what can follow but our shamefull foyles and falls? For who can carry fire in his bosome, and not bee burnt? who can hope to liue vnto old age, that maketh it his daily sport, to bee dallying with the meanes and occasions of death? And therefore if we would pre∣serue our soules from being defiled with the filthy strumpet of sinne and vice, let vs carefully shunne her vnchaste imbracements; yea (as Salomon speaketh) let vs remooue our way farre from her, and come not neere the doore of her house. And if we would not walke in the wayes of sinne which lead to destruction; Let vs not so much as once enter into the path of the wicked, nor goe in the way of euill men, but auoyd it, passe not by it, turne from it, and passe away. If wee would not doe the deuils workes of vniustice, wee must not so much as receiue his wages, but shake our hands from holding of bribes. If wee would not become euill and vaine in our thoughts and acti∣ons, wee must shut our eyes from seeing euill, and turne them away from beholding vanity. Thirdly, wee must keepe this watch, not onely that we may auoyd all sinne; but also that wee may performe all Christian and holy duties with all diligence and constancie, not contenting our selues to doe some, and neglect others, or to bee earnest in them sometimes, and soone after carelesse and slothfull; but obseruing all, and in all sea∣sons. Yea, this watch must extend it selfe, not onely to the matter of Chri∣stian duties, but also to the maner; as that they be done in loue and obe∣dience

to God, that wee may thereby glorifie him in faith and with a good conscience, with alacrity and cheerefulnesse, in sincerity and truth, without all hypocrisie, dulnesse, and wearinesse; And finally, that wee doe them prudently and seasonably, with due respect to all circumstan∣ces of persons, time, and place. In all which respects, if wee doe not care∣fully keepe the Christian watch, it is not possible but that wee shall con∣tinually faile, both in the matter and manner of our duties: seeing wee are naturally auerse and backward vnto them, sluggish and slothfull, rash and vndiscreete in doing of them; and therefore if wee doe not care∣fully watch ouer our hearts, wee shall vpon euery slight occasion neglect them altogether, or grow cold and carelesse, slacke and remisse, drow∣zy and soone weary in performing them. Whereas, if keeping this watch, wee stirre vp and re-enliue Gods graces in vs, when they are ready to lan∣guish and die, and (with the Ostridge) hasten our speed, by adding vnto our wings of faith and loue, the spurres of Gods feare, wee shall, without thinking of wearinesse, run much more swiftly and surely in the wayes of Gods Commandements.

§. Sect. 2 That we must watch ouer our selues, that we be not circum∣uented by our spirituall ene∣mies.

Finally, in this our watch we must carefully take heed, that whilest wee set our selues to performe the duties of a godly life, wee be not hindred by the tentations of our spirituall enemies, or at least so disturbed and disa∣bled, that not doing them in that manner as we ought, we lose all the fruit of our labours. In which respect, our Sauiour exhorteth his Apostles to ioyne watching with their prayer, that they might not fall into tentation, not onely vnderstanding thereby a bodily watchfulnesse opposed to natu∣rall sleepe, but also the spirituall watching opposed to carnall security, the sleepe of the soule, with both which they were at that time ouertaken. For howsoeuer the consideration of the multitude, might, and malice of our spirituall enemies, is a motiue sufficient to make vs stand watchfully vpon our gard, seeing they assault vs on all sides with their engines of battery, lay secret ambushments in euery corner, and fill all places so full of their nets and snares, that without singular circumspection we cannot auoyd them: yet seeing they neuer bend their malice and might so furiously against vs, as when they see vs exercised about Christian duties, that they may either discourage vs, or make them vnprofitable; who seeth not that wee had heere need to keepe a double watch? Like wicked theeues, often fleshed with blood and cruelty, they are alwayes ready to doe vs a mis∣chiefe, and to beate vs euen to the death when they find nothing about vs; but then they double their watch and diligence, in surprizing vs by the way, when as we are going about the seruice of our heauenly Master, and carry with vs the rich treasures of his graces; in which regard, wee must be no lesse vigilant for our owne safety, then they for our destruction; for our perseuerance in the wayes of godlinesse, and preseruing of our spiri∣tuall riches, then they to stop vs in our course, and to spoile vs of all our wealth. The deuill, like a roring Lyon, goeth alwayes about, seeking to deuoure vs, and therefore it behooueth vs continually to watch and to be sober; but then he is most watchfull in sowing his tares, when he seeth that our hea∣uenly Husbandman hath sowne his good seed and wheate of sauing gra∣ces in our hearts. The world alwayes maligneth those whom Christ hath

chosen out of it; but in nothing doth it shew greater malice against them, then when they most seriously set themselues to doe God faithfull seruice, as we see in the examples of all ages. The flesh is alwayes ready to betray vs into the hands of them both; but neuer doth it more spitefully play its prizes, then when it seeth vs exercised in religious duties; carrying away our hearts with a thousand distractions, and like a massie and heauy waight pressing vs downe, maketh vs lumpish and heauy, vnweildy and soone weary in our Christian race. In which regard, we must at all times watch to defeate their malice, but we must double and triple it, against this triple opposition of the deuill, the world, and our owne flesh, when we intend to performe any Christian duties.

§. Sect. 3 That we must keepe this watch in all places, and at all times.

In all which respects, we are to keepe a carefull watch ouer our selues in all places, when we are at home, and when we are abroad; when we are alone, and when we are in company; in the Church and open streetes, and in our owne houses and priuate Closets; seeing there is no place free from danger, by reason of those inward corruptions and secret traytors, which we carry euery where about vs, and those outward enemies, the de∣uill and the world, which are ready in all places to set vpon vs. So likewise there is no time exempted from this watch, neither youth nor old age, day nor night, but it must be kept continually, according to that; Take heed to thy selfe, and keepe thy soule diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes haue seene, and lest they depart from thine heart all the dayes of thy life. For the causes of it are continuall, and therefore the watch must not be intermitted. At all times we must labour to please God, and not by fits, and obedience at all times must be yeelded to him. At all times sinne must be shunned, vnto which we are prone by nature, and all vertues and Chri∣stian duties to be imbraced and practised, when any good occasion is of∣fered, vnto which naturally we are backward and auerse. No time is ex∣empted from the Christian warfare, nor secure and safe from the assaults of our spirituall enemies. And therefore we must continually stand vpon our guard and keepe our watch, that we be at no time vnfit for any of these purposes, lest being surprized vpon a sudden, wee be easily vanquished by our spirituall enemies. Besides, through the intermission of our watch, we doe not onely lose the present time, which should be spent in the seruice of God, but also indanger our selues to lose much more, before we can againe set our watch in good order. For our hearts hauing broke the bounds of Gods feare, will not without much labour be restrained of their licentious liberty; our deuotions being once cooled, will not without much fire and fuell recouer their lost heate. And sooner might wee with well ordered hearts, haue performed the duties of Gods seruice which we intend, then bring them in frame and rightly prepare them, when through neglect of this watch they are out of tune. Finally, wee must keepe this watch in all estates and conditions, in the time of health as well as in sicknesse, as well when we are rich, that our wealth do not wedge and fasten our hearts vpon the world and earthly things; as in our pouerty, that wee vse no vnlawfull meanes to become rich. In our prosperity, that we forget not God, nor loue his gifts better then the giuer; and in our affliction, that we murmure not through impatiencie, but draw neerer vnto God when he correcteth vs.

§. Sect. 4 That we must watch ouer our brethren.

Neither is it enough that we thus watch ouer our selues, but wee must also with like care and circumspection watch ouer our brethren; seeing the Lord hath not committed vs to our owne single watch, but hath in∣ioyned vs to be mutuall obseruers and keepers one of another; not curi∣ously to pry out one anothers faults, to censure and aggrauate them, but charitably to take notice of them, that wee may helpe to amend them. Thus the Apostle inioyneth vs, to consider one another, to prouoke vnto loue and to good workes, and that we should exhort one another daily, while it is cal∣led to day, lest any of vs should be hardned through the deceitfulnesse of sinne. For this care and watchfulnesse being an inseparable effect and fruit of Chri∣stian charity, extendeth it selfe, not onely to our owne persons (for this were nothing but selfe-loue) but as farre as it stretcheth, that is, to all our neighbours. Thus Dauid tooke notice, not onely of his owne sinnes, to mourne for them, but saith that riuers of waters did runne downe his eyes, be∣cause other men did not keepe Gods Law. Yea, this his care extended to his enemies; My zeale (saith he) hath consumed me, because mine enemies haue not kept thy Word. But though our care must extend to all, yet wee must keepe this watch in a speciall manner ouer those who are committed to our speciall charge; as the Housholder ouer his family, and the Pastour ouer his flocke, according to that of the Apostle, Take heed to your selues and to all the flocke, ouer the which the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers, &c. Which whoso neglecteth, and taketh care onely for himselfe, hee is worse then an Infidell, and plainely discouers that hee is of Cains speech and spi∣rit, thinking it enough to looke to himselfe, and scorning to bee his bro∣thers keeper.

Notes

• Pro. 6. 27.
• Pro. 5. 8.
• Pro. 4. 14, 15.
• Esa. 33. 15.
• Psal. 119. 37. Inutile est crebrò videre per quae aliquando cap∣tus sis. Hyer. ad Jouinian. lib. 2.
• Mat. 26. 41. Mar. 13. 33. Eph. ••. 18.
• 1. Pet. 5. 8.
• Mat. 13. 25. Ioh. 15. 9. Exod. 5. 1, 6.
• Deut. 4. 9.
• Heb. 10. 24. & 3. 13.
• Psal. 119. 136.
• Vers. 139.
• Act. 20. 28.
• Gen. 4. 9.