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. 8 Of the bene∣fits which a godly life bringeth at the houre of death.

And these are the benefits which accompany a godly life, whilest we continue in the world: the benefits which it bringeth, when by death we are to depart out of it, are also great and inestimable: For when all worldly blessings faile, and like miserable comforters leaue and forsake vs; when being in greatest agony and distresse, wee stand in most neede of helpe, then the consolations which it bringeth, doe exceedingly cheere and refresh vs. For the good Spirit of God, which hath ruled and guided vs throughout the whole course of our liues, doth not leaue and forsake vs at the houre of death, but then especi∣ally doth accompany and assist vs, and the more our afflictions and griefes abound, the more it causeth our consolations to abound also. For it sealeth in our hearts and consciences, the assurance of the par∣don and remission of all our sinnes, and saith vnto vs, as sometimes Christ to the sicke of the palsie; Sonne, be of good comfort, thy sinnes are * 1.1 forgiuen thee. It incourageth vs against the feare of death, by assuring vs, that it hath lost its sting, and therefore though like a serpent it still hisse, yet it is not able to doe vs any hurt. It causeth the beames of Gods loue to shine cleerely in our hearts, by which they are so war∣med and cheered, that the chill and cold terrours of death cannot daunt and dismay vs. It calleth to our remembrance our former care to serue and please God, and how we haue walked with him & before him, though not in legall perfection, yet with integrity and vpright∣nesse * 1.2 of heart, & how we haue done that which is good in Gods sight. It witnesseth with our consciences, that wee haue beene faithfull Ste∣wards, who haue well husbanded Gods talents intrusted vnto vs; and that our accounts are euen, so that we neede not feare now when we are called to a reckoning. Yea, it putteth into our hands a gene∣rall acquittance, sealed with the blood of Christ, that wee may haue it in readinesse, when we appeare before our Iudge. It telleth vs, that now all our labours are ended, and that nothing remaineth, but to re∣ceiue our wages, and to keepe with God, his Saints and holy Angels a perpetuall Sabbath in all ioy and happinesse; that now wee are safe∣ly passed thorow a sea of danger, and are arriuing and entring into the heauenly Hauen of euerlasting rest; that we haue fought a good fight, and * 1.3 finished it with an happy victory, and that now nothing remaineth, but to receiue the Crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous Iudge hath layde vp for vs, and is now ready to set vpon our heads with triumph and glory. Againe, a godly life changeth the nature of death, and of a curse for sinne, maketh it to become a great blessing; as being

a meanes to free vs from all euils, and to enter vs into the fruition of the chiefest good; so that whosoeuer with the Apostle haue led their liues in the true feare of God, may say with him; For to me to liue, is * 1.4 Christ; and to die, is gaine. For the death of the godly puts an end to all their troubles, that all teares may be wiped from their eyes. It causeth them * 1.5 cease to sinne, which so long as they liue in the flesh, hangeth vpon them as an heauie burthen, and presseth out of them many a sorrow∣full sigh and deepe grone. It bringeth with it a ioyfull rest from all their labours, which in this life are so tedious and troublesome, and putteth an end to their wearisome pilgrimage. It freeth them from all worldly miseries, from pouerty and penurie, sores and sicknesses, slanders and disgraces, and bringeth with it heauenly plentie, and the riches of Gods Kingdome, perpetuall health & euerlasting glory. It putteth an end to the spiritual conflict, and to all the assaults of our ma∣ny, mighty and malicious enemies, so as they shall neuer more be able to disturbe our peace. It separateth vs from the society of wicked * 1.6 worldlings, which whilest wee liue, is so irkesome and dangerous, and from participating with them either in their sinnes or punishments. It secureth vs from the euils to come, and acquitteth vs from appro∣ching dangers. Finally, as it putteth an end to all our euils both of punishment and sinne, so it serueth as an entrance into the full fruition of all good, and for a straite gate, whereby we passe into heauenly happinesse. All which considerations should be effectuall reasons to perswade to the leading of a godly life, which is alwaies attended vpon by such a blessed death, that bringeth so many comforts with it, when all other comforts faile; and so many ioyes after it; of all which they depriue themselues, who neglect Gods seruice, and spend their time and strength in the eager pursuite of worldly vanities.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Matth. 9. 2.
• * 1.2

  Esa. 38. 3.
• * 1.3

  2. Tim. 4 7. 8.
• * 1.4

  Phil. 1. 21.
• * 1.5

  Apoc. 21. 4.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 120. 5.