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 speciall priui∣ledge, is spiri∣tuall illumina∣tion.

The second speciall priuiledge and fruit of the Spirit, peculiar to the godly, is, that he openeth their eyes blinded with naturall igno∣rance, so as they see the wonderfull things of Gods Law, and inlighteneth their darke mindes with supernaturall, spirituall and heauenly Wis∣dome and prudence, so as they not onely conceiue of the high and hidden mysteries of Gods Kingdome, which the wisest of the world that are not thus illuminated, are not capable of; but also in a sauing manner are able to bring all they know to vse, for their spirituall di∣rection in all the waies of godlinesse, which will bring them to hea∣uenly happinesse. For it is the oyle of the Spirit, wherewith our eyes being anointed, doe see and know all things. It is this comforta∣ble Schoole-master that teacheth vs all things, as our Sauiour speaketh; without whose instruction wee remaine ignorant of Gods will. For as no man knoweth the things of a man, saue the spirit of man which is in him; euen so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. And what∣soeuer God maketh knowne vnto vs of his secret counsels, he reueyleth it vnto vs by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deepe things of God. He is that spirituall eye-salue, wherewith Christ anoynteth our eyes that wee may see. It is he which by his secret whisperings (as it were) a voyce behinde vs, teacheth vs the way of saluation, saying, This is the way, walke yee in it. But yet this voyce is not heard of all, but the faithfull onely, whose eares God hath opened. This heauenly Light shineth not to all in all places, but onely in Goshen to the true Israel of God, all others still remayning in a more then Egyptian darkenesse; and to whomsoeuer it appeareth, it teacheth them to denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts, & to liue soberly and righteously, and godly in this present world. This spirituall and diuine Schoole-master teacheth not all men; but those that truely feare God; according to that of the Psalmist, The meeke will he guide in iudgement, and the meeke will he teach his way. And againe, What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall chuse. And to such alone, who medirate in his Testimonies, and keepe his Precepts, he giueth more wisdome and

vnderstanding then to the ancient, or then to their teachers. The which should be a powerfull reason to mooue vs vnto the practice of all holy duties in a godly life, seeing hereby wee are assured of this spirituall illumination and heauenly Wisedome, which is so high a priuiledge, that it farre exceedeth all worldly treasures, in so much as he who best knew it, could not tell how to value it, or to equall it with any price. Happie (saith he) is the man that findeth wisdome, and the man that getteth vnderstanding: for the merchandize thereof is better then the merchandize of Siluer, and the gaine thereof then fine Gold. She is more precious then Rubies, and all the things thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her, &c. So Iob, But where shall Wisdome be found? And where is the place of vnderstanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the Land of the liuing. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall siluer be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious Onix, and the Saphir, &c. And therefore if men thinke no paines too much to obtaine gold and precious treasures, how much more should wee labour without wearinesse for the get∣ting of this Spirituall Wisdome, which in true worth doth so farre exceed them? What care should we take to be in the number of the godly, to whom this diuine Light onely shineth? Yea, to be richly stored with this treasure of godlinesse, wherein this heauenly Wis∣dome chiefly consisteth? For the feare of the Lord is Wisdome; and to de∣part from euill, is vnderstanding. Or as the Psalmist speaketh; The feare of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdome; a good vnderstanding haue all they that doe his commandements.

Notes

• Psal. 119. 18. Matth. 11. 25. 1. Cor. 2. 14.
• 1. Ioh. 2. 20, 27. Ioh. 14. 26.
• 1. Cor. 2. 10, 11.
• Apoc. 3. 18.
• Esa. 31. 21.
• Tit. 2. 11, 12.
• Psal. 25. 12.
• Psal. 117. 99, 100.
• Pro. 3. 14, 15. & 8. 11, 19. & 16. 16.
• Iob 28. 12, 13. &c.
• Iob 28. 28.
• Psal. 111. 10. Pro. 9. 10.