A20762:1019
A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties
A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helps enabling & the reasons persuading unto it the impediments hindering the practise of it, and the best means to remove them whereunto are added divers prayers and a treatise of carnal security by John Douname Bachelor in Divinity and minister of Gods Word.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.
London: printed by Felix Kingstone and William Stansby for Ed, 1622
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. Sect. 4 Of some short meditations before we eat.
§. Sect. 4 Of some short meditations before we eate.
Unto this prayer and thanksgiving, let us add in the next place, as opportunity will serve and our company and occasions permit, some short meditations, before we eat, or in the beginning of our meal; as first of Gods infinite goodness and bounty, who preserveth and nourisheth all his creatures, especially us by a more special providence, providing for us sufficient plenty of all good blessings, and causing us to enjoy them with peace and safety. Whereas there are many afflicted and poor servants of God, who would be glad to feed upon our reversions and leavings; and ⟨p. 283⟩are in danger before they rise from their table, to have their throats cut, and their meats mingled with their blood. Yea, consider that thou enjoyest from God, not only this plenty with peace and safety of body and state, but also with it the light of the Gospel, and the food of thy soul, whereby thou mayest be strengthened in all grace, and nourished unto life everlasting, which many poor souls have not at all, or secretly and by stealth, with extreme hazard of their states and lives. Unto which meditation of Gods mercy and bounty, let us join the consideration of our own vileness and unworthiness, in which, if God should look upon us, he might justly deprive us of all his benefits, and not suffer us to have a bit of bread to satisfy our hunger, nor a drop of drink to quench our thirst. Let us remember that at our meals we are to nourish two guests, the soul as well as the body, and let our chief care be to give best welcome to our best guest; the which will bring unto us chiefest comfort. For what food our body receiveth, it keepeth not, but within a few hours is again vexed with hunger; but the food of the soul shall still remain, and we shall have the fruit and benefit of it in this life and the life to come. Let us consider, that as we feed in great part upon mortal and corruptible creatures, so our bodies like our meats are mortal and corruptible; and therefore following our Saviours counsel, let our chief care be for our immortal souls, and to labour, not for the meat that perisheth, but for that which endureth