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 The reason of this choice: what repen∣tance is, and the causes thereof.

HAuing thus set downe the doctrine of Meditation, it now followeth, that I propound an example of it, according to the former rules and directions. Where first we are to make choyce of the subiect matter whereon wee purpose to medi∣tate, and then to discourse of it with our vnderstanding, and to feele the vertue and efficacie of it in our hearts, the which must be done in a Soliloquie between vs and our soules, or rather of the soule to it selfe, after this manner: Now that thou hast (O my soule) sequestred thy selfe from all society, that thou mayest haue some secret conference betweene thee and thy selfe, in the alone presence of God and thine owne consci∣ence; make choyce of some fit subiect whereon thou mayest spend thy paines and time with most profit for thy spirituall good, that laying a good foundation, thou mayest erect thy building with more ease and fruit. And what fitter matter, vpon this present occasion canst thou chuse to thinke vpon, then vpon that excellent grace and duty of repentance, which is the first beginning of a godly life, and after it is begun, accom∣panieth it vnto the end, as a chiefe agent in all this worke? Vpon what bet∣ter argument canst thou meditate then vpon this, which the Prophets and Apostles haue so much beate vpon? yea, which our Sauiour Christ him∣selfe thought so necessary and profitable, that he did not onely make it the subiect of his owne Sermons, but being to ascend, commended it at his last farewell to his Apostles, as the chiefest theame, next vnto faith, vpon * 1.1 which hee would haue them to preach in his Name. A duty that belongs vnto all, and is neuer vnseasonable; alwayes necessary: An Euangelicall grace and chiefe fruit of faith, in which it liueth, without which it is dead. So that as faith is the life of our soules, by applying Christ vnto vs, in whom we liue, so repentance, in respect of our sense and feeling, which can no otherwise iudge of the hidden roote, but by the outward fruit, is the life of this life. As faith is the onely condition of the Couenant of grace, which assureth vs of all good things temporall and eternall; so repentance as a counter-bond, assureth vnto vs this assurance, & by a sensible infallibi∣lity & outward euidence, perswadeth vs that we performe this condition of beleeuing in Christ, and apprehending all the promises by faith vnfained. Now that thou mayest (O my soule) proceed in some order, what is this repentance, but an Euangelicall and sauing grace of God, wrought in thine heart by his holy Spirit, applying by faith (as by his instrument) Christ and all his benefits, which inflaming thine heart with feruent loue, doth make thee looke vpon him whom thou hast pearced, to bewaile thy sinnes, as the chiefe causes of his death, to hate and forsake them, and to turne vnto God, offering vnto thee grace and pardon, by amendment of life, and bringing foorth the fruits of new obedience. So that it is a grace and free gift, and no naturall endowment which commeth by inheritance, or else procured by thine owne purchase. It is the gift of God, who giueth

vnto thee all good things. It is a gift of his free grace, preuenting thee when thou didst neuer so much as thinke of it, by putting into thy mind the profit and necessity of it, and into thy heart some desire of receiuing it, preparing and fitting thee for it, by the preaching of the Law, working humiliation, contrition, and legall sorrow, and fitting thy mind and will, that they might consent and obey the motions of the Spirit, outward in the Word, and inward in the heart and conscience; working it first in thee, by changing the mind and heart, and turning them from sinne, vnto holi∣nesse and righteousnesse, co-working with thee, that thou mayest conti∣nue, renew, and increase in the practice of it, and perfecting thy repen∣tance, in the parts and degrees of it which himselfe begun. It is hee that calleth vs to repentance, and inableth vs to repent. He striketh our stony hearts, and maketh them to relent by sound contrition, before these rocks will yeeld any waters of true repentance. It is he that powreth the Spirit * 1.2 of grace vpon the house of Iudah, before they can lament for their wicked∣nesse, and that giueth repentance to the house of Israel, and with it remission of sinnes. Thou canst not turne vnto him (O my soule) before hee first turne vnto thee, nor weepe bitterly with Peter, till hee thaw thy frozen heart, by reflecting vpon thee the beames of his gracious countenance. Yea, when he turneth, thou canst not turne, till hee turning his face, turne also thine heart, as it is running away with feare, and neuer looking backe, that thou mayest behold his gracious countenance, promising nothing but good, and his stretched out Arme, to receiue thee vnto grace and fa∣uour. Surely (saith the Church) after I was turned, I repented, and after that * 1.3 I was instructed, I smote vpon my thigh. No man can sorrow for his sinnes, nor resolue to forsake them, but hee that hateth them, nor any hate them, but they who loue God, nor any loue him, whose hearts hee first inflameth not, by sheading abroad his loue in them by the holy Ghost, which hee giueth vnto * 1.4 vs. Neither doth he worke alone, but together with his Sonne and holy Spirit. For it is the blood of this Lambe of God, which worketh our ada∣mantine hearts to this relenting softnesse, and the water which issued out of his pierced side, which being beheld with the eye of faith, doth draw out of our eyes, the brinish waters of repentant teares. And therefore be∣cause he is the Author of our repentance, both as hee procured it by the meritorious vertue of his death, and worketh it by his blood-shed apply∣ed by faith, he inioyneth his Apostles to preach repentance in his Name. Fi∣nally, * 1.5 it is the oyle of the holy Spirit, which suppleth and softneth our hard and stony hearts; It is this diuine fire, which warming our cold hearts with the flame of Gods loue, and the hot blood that issued from our Sauiour, causeth them to send vp into our heads these salt, yet sweet waters of vnfained repentance, which distill by our eyes, and in trickling teares drop from our cheekes. This winde of the Spirit must blow vpon vs, yea must blow into vs, before wee can returne vnto God one sigh to expresse our sorrow for our sinnes. And therefore (O my soule) seeing God is the principall cause of thy repentance, rob him of no part of his due, but ascribe vnto him the whole glory of his owne worke. Which though hee could effect by his sole immediate power, yet hee is pleased to vse in it many subordinate causes, meanes, and instruments, by which he worketh

this grace in thee: As ministeriall and helping causes, namely, the Mini∣sters of the Word, who in this worke are co-labourers with Christ, sent by him to open mens eyes, and to turne them from darkenesse to light, and from * 1.6 the power of Satan vnto God, that they may receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes, and inheritance, among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ, in which respect, they are called spirituall fathers, begetting them to God by the seed of the * 1.7 Word. So likewise instrumentall causes, which are inward, precedent, and immediate, as sauing knowledge, shewing the way to repentance, a liuely faith, vnfained loue, and true feare of God, both in respect of his mercies and iudgements, especially the last and generall Iudgement at * 1.8 the end of the world; or else outward, which either lead and draw, or else mooue and perswade vs to repentance. Of the former sort are many in∣struments and meanes to bring vs to it. As the Ministery of the Word; and first, the preaching of the Law, which prepareth vs for it, and of the * 1.9 Gospel which worketh it in vs, by assuring vs, that if wee will turne to the Lord, he will haue mercy vpon vs, and forgiue vs our sinnes. So also crosses * 1.10 and afflictions, either vpon our selues or others; Gods blessings and bene∣fits, either promised or bestowed. The moouing and perswading causes are innumerable; as the loue of God towards vs, his patience and long suffering, his truth in his promises, and all-sufficiency in performance, the profit of it in this life, seeing it bringeth with it peace of conscience, and ioy in the holy Ghost, and maketh way for our eternall saluation in the life to come; the necessity of it, seeing without it nothing can saue vs, with it no sinne can condemne vs, being an inseparable fruit of faith, which is the alone condition of all promised happinesse, &c. And these with many other, are the causes (O my soule) which all concurre together to worke thy heart vnto vnfained repentance, which being in themselues so powerfull and preualent to produce this effect, will leaue thee quite with∣out excuse, if they be not effectuall to this end.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luk. 24. 37.
• * 1.2

  Ezek. 11. 29. & 36. 26. Zach. 12. 10. Act. 5. 31, & 11. 18. 2. Tim. 2. 25.
• * 1.3

  Ier. 31. 19. Lam. 5. 21.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 5. 5. 1. Joh. 4. 19.
• * 1.5

  Luk. 24. 47.
• * 1.6

  Act. 26. 18.
• * 1.7

  1. Cor. 4. 15.
• * 1.8

  Act. 17. 30.
• * 1.9

  Esa. 55. 7.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 119. 71. Luk. 13. 1, 2, 3. Rom. 2. 4.