A20762:1223
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. 3 Three other Cautions to be observed for the right use of prosperity.
§. Sect. 3 Three other Cautions to be obserued for the right vse of prosperity.
Fifthly, unto the right use of prosperity and temporal benefits there is required, that we use them as pilgrims and strangers, and not as Citizens of the world; for so Gods Saints have always acknowledged themselves, 1and that they had here no continuing city, but sought one to come. The consideration whereof must wean our hearts and affections from the immoderate love of the world & earthly vanities, and cause us to fix them on heaven and heavenly things, which is our country and place of residence, to fight against our carnal lusts which fight against our souls; and to contemn and cast away whatsoever becometh an hindrance in our journey towards our heavenly home. And seeing we are Citizens of heaven, we must have our conversation there, seeking those things which are above, and not those which are beneath, and think that nothing more doth misbeseem us, then that being the children of God, & heirs apparent to his heavenly Kingdom, we should like base slaves spend our time and strength in the devils drudgery, and in toiling in the works of darkness and servitude of sin, for the contemptible wages of earthly vanities. Sixthly, we must use them not as durable and permanent riches and inheritances, but as things momentany and mutable, which are ready daily and hourly to leave us, and we them. And therefore our best course will be to use so these flitting vanities, as that they may further our assurance of our heavenly patrimony, which is permanent and everlasting; and as our Saviour counselleth us, to make us friends of the Mammon of iniquity, by using them as helps and instruments to further us in the works of