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. 9 Because there∣by we are oc∣casioned to renew our Co∣uenant with God.

Finally, the Lords Supper rightly vsed, is a notable meanes, to confirme and strengthen vs vnto all duties of a godly life; because it giueth vs occa∣sion in our preparation, (that we may come as worthy ghests to the Lords Table) to renew our Couenant with God, by renewing our faith in Christ, our repentance for our sinnes, our loue towards God and our neighbours, and all other sauing graces in vs. We renew our faith, by meditating vpon Gods infinite mercies, and Christs all-sufficient merits, the gracious and indefinite promises of the Gospell, and the truth and omnipotencie of God, whereby he is willing and able to performe them; vpon Gods Com∣mandement, inioyning vs to beleeue, and his bounty and goodnesse, in giuing his Word and Sacraments made effectuall by his Spirit, whereby he inableth vs to doe that which he commandeth. Wee renew vpon this occasion our repentance also, by bewailing our sinnes past, and strengthe∣ning our resolution, to leaue and forsake them for the time to come, and to serue God in the contrary duties of holinesse and righteousnesse. And seeing our great wants and imperfections in all Gods graces and Christi∣an duties, we promise and vow in our selues, and vnto God, that wee will carefully vse all good meanes whereby we may attaine vnto them in more perfection. So likewise after the receiuing of this Sacrament, wee take oc∣casion to examine our selues, how we haue profited and increased in spiri∣tuall strength and growth of grace, by being feasted at the Lords Table with this food of our soules; and being mindfull of our promises made be∣fore we come to the Lords Table, we become more diligent in vsing the

meanes whereby Gods graces may be perfited in vs, and we strengthened vnto all good duties. And that we may not appeare to be Couenant-brea∣kers with God, and to haue receiued his grace in vaine, we are made more carefull and conscionable in looking to all our wayes, for the auoyding of all those sinnes wherewith formerly we haue beene ouertaken, and practi∣zing those duties which we haue heretofore neglected, and so to carry our selues in the whole course of our liues, that we may at all times and in all things please the Lord, whom we haue found and felt so gracious vnto vs. In all which respects, who doth not plainly see, that the often resorting to the Lords Table, if we come vnto it duely prepared, is a most effectuall meanes to inrich vs with all Gods graces, and to strengthen vs vnto all good duties of a godly life? And therefore they are most iniurious vnto their owne soules, who seldome come to this spirituall feast, and take euery slight occasion of defrauding them of their due food, seeing heereby they make them droope in their spirituall life, to languish and waxe faint in all sauing grace, and to become vtterly, both vnable and vnwilling, to performe vnto God any sincere and cheerefull seruice.