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. 2 The second reason taken from our Iusti∣fication, and the fruits which fol∣low it.

Finally, the benefit of our Iustification, with all the fruits that doe fol∣low it, are so many strong motiues to incite vs vnto the duties of a godly

life: for God, in our Iustification, of his free grace, imputing vnto vs the death and obedience of Iesus Christ, hath forgiuen vs all our sinnes, and pronounced vs iust and righteous, in his righteousnesse. By which inesti∣mable benefit, he hath bound vs to serue and glorifie him in all holy du∣ties, who hath done so great things for vs. For seeing there is no euill, like the euill of sinne, no tyranny and bondage alike miserable, therefore when God of his free grace hath freed vs from it, wee must with all care flee sinne, and take heed, that wee doe not againe come into this thral∣dome. And seeing he hath forgiuen vs so great a debt, let this make vs loue him much, and expresse our loue, by seruing and pleasing him in the duties of holinesse and righteousnesse. The which vse the Apostle ma∣keth of this benefit, namely, that being dead vnto sinne, that is, freed from the power and tyranny of it, and aliue vnto God, we should not let sinne any longer raigne in our mortall bodies, that we should obey it in the lusts thereof, but that we should yeeld our selues vnto God, as those that are aliue from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousnesse vnto God; and that being made free from sinne, we should become the seruants of righteousnesse. Which if we doe not, we can haue no assurance that wee are redeemed by Christ and iustified; seeing the same vertue and power of Christs death and Resur∣rection, which taketh away the guilt and punishment of our sinnes in our Iustification, is as effectuall to sanctifie vs in the killing and crucifying of our corruptions, and our spirituall quickening to holinesse and new∣nesse of life in our sanctification, and as well did there issue out of his pierced side the water of ablution, to cleanse vs from the pollution of sinne, as the blood of Redemption to free vs from the guilt and punish∣ment. The fruits also which follow our Iustification, doe effectually per∣swade vs to serue God in all the duties of a godly life. For seeing wee are reconciled vnto God by the death of Christ, our care must bee to walke in such a course as may preserue vs in his loue: for Christ hath, as the A∣postle speaketh, reconciled vs in the body of his flesh through death, to present vs, holy, vnblameable, and vnreprooueable in his sight. We haue receiued the Spirit of Adoption crying in our hearts, Abba Father, that it may be also in vs the Spirit of Sanctification, and inable vs to please God in al things, as it beseemeth his children. And in whomsoeuer this Spirit is, them it regenerateth, raising them from the death of sinne, to the life of righte∣ousnesse. So our free accesse to the Throne of grace, should make vs take heed of sinne, which will be as a wall of separation betweene God and vs, and to liue in such holinesse of life, as may still preserue our confidence in making our suits knowne vnto God. The loue of God shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost, will inflame them with loue towards him, and make vs carefull to approue it, by liuing according to his will. The peace of God following our Iustification by faith, and passing all vnder∣standing, must make vs diligent in shunning those things which might disturbe it, and imbracing and practising such vertues and holy duties as will preserue it. Our spirituall ioy and reioycing in God, will make vs a∣uoyd all knowne sinnes which would interrupt our ioy, and turne it into sorrow, and to please the Lord in all things, that his face and fauour may make vs still glad. Our hope of heauenly happinesse will also much in∣courage

vs in the worke of our sanctification: for as many as haue this hope, that they shall be like Christ in glory, purge themselues, as he also is pure, as the Apostle teacheth vs. In a word, there is no benefit accom∣panying grace and saluation, which may not serue as an effectuall rea∣son to moue vs to the practice of all holy duties, both out of thanke∣fulnesse towards God for such inestimable gifts, and for the better as∣suring our selues, that we haue receiued them, seeing God hauing gi∣uen them all vnto vs for this end, we haue no reason to perswade our selues, that wee haue any interest in them, vnlesse they further vs to it, and stirre vs vp in some measure to glorifie God in all the duties of an holy life. And therefore if wee haue any loue towards God, wrought in vs by so many rich mercies, or any true loue towards our selues, which is chiefely shewed in seeking the assurance of such in∣estimable benefits; let vs aboue all things labour and indeuour to serue and pleased God, by bringing forth the fruits of holinesse and righte∣ousnesse, in the whole course of our liues and conuersations.

Notes

• Luk. 7. 47.
• Rom. 6. 10, 12, 18.
• Ephes. 5. 25, 26. 1. Pet. 2. 24.
• Col. 1. 21, 22.
• Rom. 8. 15.
• Ephes. 3. 12.
• Rom. 5. 5.
• Rom. 5. 1.
• Rom. 5. 3.
• 1. Ioh. 3. 2, 3.