A20762:1228
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 the right use of apparel.
§. Sect. 4 Of the right vse of apparell.
And these things are generally required to the right use of our prosperity, and the temporal blessings which do accompany it. We might add some special directions concerning the right use of the chief of them. Amongst which the most ordinary and necessary, are food and apparel; of the former whereof I have spoken before, and therefore will only in 1some brief manner say something of the latter, of which I have entreated more largely in another place. And first let us know, that we must use our apparel to those right ends for which they were ordained, that is, for necessity of nature to cover our nakedness, and to keep us from the injuries of the weather, and for comeliness, ornament, and sober delight. In which respect those who profess Christianity, must carefully avoid in the use of their apparel, pride and vain glory, of which there is little cause, if we consider their original; which was to hide our shame, the fruit of our sin; that the richest robes are no special privileges belonging to the faithful, seeing Pagans and Heathens, worldly and wicked men and women do most exceed in them; and finally, that when we have made our selves as brave as Solomon in all his royalty, yet the Lilies and flowers of the field will far excel us in their native beauty and bravery. And seeing they were given to cover our shame, hide our nakedness, and to preserve us from the injuries of the weather, therefore do those fail of their end, who out of pride, vanity and wantonness, do use such as do discover them, namely, such women who lay open their naked breasts to public view, as ensigns of their own vanity, and alluring baits to draw others unto folly. Finally, seeing it was given for ornament, comeliness and honest delight, they offend on the contrary side, who being advanced to high places, fit not their apparel in some moderate sort to their rank and calling, but go in sordid and base clothes, out of a penurious mind, in a rich estate, to spare their purses and save charges. But of this I shall need to say little, being a rare fault in these days, wherein almost all offend, not only carnal worldlings, but also professors of Religion as much as they, in excessive bravery above their callings. But seeing there are extremes on both sides, what rules can be given for the observing of the mean?