A20762:1113
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. 1 How we must carry ourselves when we confer with those who excel us in gifts.
§. Sect. 1 How wee must carry ourselues when we conferre with those who excell vs in gifts.
And thus we have spoken of graciousness of speech to be used in our conferences, and of the contrary corruptions which ought to be shunned. The next duty required, is, that our speeches be powdered with the salt of Christian wisdom and prudence, which not only enableth us to speak good things, but also to fit these speeches to the persons with whom we confer, to occasions and opportunities, to the present purpose, use and necessity, so as they may be most seasonable, powerful and effectual for the furthering of our own good, and theirs also that bear us company. And this the Apostle understandeth, when as he requireth, that our speech should be always gracious, and seasoned with salt, that we may know how 1to answer every man, for their special use and benefit. This is that fit and seasonable speech which the Wise man compareth to apples of gold, in ⟨p. 316⟩2pictures of silver; and this is, to have the tongue of the learned, when as we know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. And when as we 3can fit our speeches to present occasions, and so apply them to every sort and condition of men, as that they may be behoovefull and beneficial to them all in their several kinds. As for example, when we confer with such as excel us in grace and piety, wisdom and knowledge, we must, reverencing Gods graces and greater gifts in them, yield unto them priority of speech, and attentively hearken unto those gracious words which proceed out of their mouths; not spending of our small stock which cannot enrich them, but laying up their speeches as good treasures in our hearts, that we may increase our spiritual store, which we may afterwards lay out when we come among those that have more need. And unto this the wise Solomon adviseth us, Bow down thine ear (saith he)