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. 9 Of the eternall execution of Gods Decree at the end of the world, &c.

Of the eternall execution of Gods Decree, wee may likewise meditate, which shall be at the end of the world, and is either generall, respecting * 1.1 the whole world, as the destruction of it with flaming fire, which conside∣ration the Apostle Peter maketh a strong motiue vnto godlinesse; that we may be found of God in peace, without spot, and blamelesse; and the renoua∣tion and perpetuall conseruation of it; or else the speciall execution of it in the inhabitants of the world, which shall be at the generall Iudgement, and the eternall retribution which followeth it. And heere we may profit∣ably meditate on this Day of Iudgement, when Christ shall come in glo∣ry, to iudge both the quicke and the dead, and of the signes of his com∣ming; of the resurrection of the dead, and change of the liuing; of the citation of all before Christs Iudgement seate; and of the diuers sentence which he shall pronounce for the elect, and against the reprobate; and of the blessed estate of the one, and the cursed and miserable condition of the other; of the eternall retribution which shall then bee of rewards to the faithfull, in the full fruition of eternall life and blessednesse, heauenly ioy and perfect glory; of all the parts whereof I haue spoken in another place; and of the retribution of punishment to the wicked in hell torments, * 1.2 both in their soules and bodies. And these are the things whereupon wee may meditate, respecting the actions of God. Now concerning the things which we are to beleeue concerning the Church, there is all profitable matter of Meditation. As that there is a Church, called and gathered out of the rest of the world, as Gods owne peculiar people, to worship and serue him according to his will. That there is in this company an holy Communion of Saints, vnited vnto our Head Christ, by his Spirit and a liuely faith, and with one another, as members of the same body, with the bond of faith and loue. That this Church is Catholike, part whereof is Militant on earth, and part of it Triumphant in heauen. That the proper∣ties

of the Militant Church are to bee either inuisible, which consisteth onely of the elect, or visible, consisting partly of them, and partly of hy∣pocrites; that there are certaine infallible notes of the true visible Church, by which we may discerne it from all others, as the sound preaching of the Word, and the right administration of the Sacraments, in all the essen∣tiall parts of them, according to Christs holy institution; and finally, that there are also infallible notes of the true members, both of this and the in∣uisible Church of Christ, on which wee may profitably meditate, and by examination apply particularly vnto our selues, that we may know whe∣ther we be or no in this number. And these are the things to be beleeued, which we may chuse for the matter of our Meditation. The things which are to be done, are all contained in the Law of God or ten Commande∣ments, vpon which we may meditate seuerally, and on all and euery of the vertues and vices contained in any of them, but especially on those vertues in which we are most defectiue, and on those vices, vnto which our corrupt natures are most inclined; as also on the meanes and helpes whereby wee may be inabled to imbrace and practise the one, and shunne and auoyd the other; and on the signes, whereby wee may vpon due examination know whether or no we be indued with those vertues, and purged from those vices. Of all which, I haue spoken in the former part of this Treatise, vnto which I referre the Reader; or if hee desireth a more full and perfect dis∣course, vnto that exact and learned abstract of the duties commanded, and sinnes forbidden in the Law of God, written by my right reuerend and deare Brother, to whose labours I acknowledge my selfe most beholding for all the former heads of diuinity, which I haue set downe, as the matter about which our Meditations may be profitably exercised.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Pet. 3. 11, 12, 13, 14.
• * 1.2

  Christ. War∣fare 2. part.