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 That God sea∣leth vnto the godly, the as∣surance of their adop∣tion.

THe fifth priuiledge peculiar to the godly, is the fruits and effects of the Spirit, the first and chiefe whereof is this, that the Spirit witnesseth and sealeth in their hearts and consciences the assurance of their adop∣tion, whereby of the children of wrath and firebands of hell, they become the children of God, and co∣heires with Iesus Christ of their heauenly Inheritance. For as many as are led by the Spirit, they are the sonnes of God. For ye haue not (saith the Apostle) receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare; but yee haue receiued the Spirit of adoption, whereby wee cry, Abba Father. The Spirit it selfe beareth witnesse with our spirit, that wee are the children of God. And if children, then heires, heires of God, and ioynt-heires with Christ. And againe, Because yee are sonnes, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts, crying Abba Father. So the Euangelist Iohn saith, that as many as receiued Christ, to them he gaue this priuiledge to become the sonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue on his name. So that whosoeuer lay hold vpon Christ by a true and liuely faith, and bring forth the fruits thereof in holinesse and newnesse of life, thereby approuing themselues to be such as are led by the Spirit, they haue this high and honourable pri∣uiledge, that they are the sonnes of God, and coheires with Christ in

his Kingdome of glory. The which should be a most effectuall re∣gument to perswade vs to flee all maner of sin, that we may not grieue the holy Spirit of God, whereby we are sealed vnto the day of Redemption, and to leade a godly & Christian life, that wee may walke worthy this high calling, & approue our selues to be Gods children, by resembling our heauenly Father in holinesse and righteousnesse. For if wee would thinke no paines too much in the seruice of an earthly King, if there∣by wee could be assured, that he would adopt vs for his sonnes, yea, make vs heires apparant to his Crowne and Kingdome, though cor∣ruptible and momentany; how diligent should wee be in seruing and pleasing God, who hath of his free grace assured all those that feare and serue him, that they shall be his adopted sonnes, and heires of his incorruptible and glorious Kingdome, which shall haue no end; seeing this Crowne bringeth no care with it, but all security, and such surpassing ioy and glory, as neither the eye hath seene, the eare heard, nor the heart of man can possibly conceiue?

Notes

• Rom. 8. 14, 15, 16.
• Gal. 4. 6.
• Ioh. 1. 12.
• Eph. 4. 30.
• 1. Cor. 9. 25.
• 1. Cor. 2. 9.