A20762:1292
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. 2 The manifold evils which excessive sleep bringeth.
§. Sect. 2 The manifold euils which excessiue sleepe bringeth.
Thirdly, consider the manifold evils which it bringeth upon us; for first, like a sly and cunning thief it robbeth us of our time, which is our most precious jewel, and when it is lost, cannot be recovered; yea even of that part of time which is chief and principal, the prime of the morning, which is fittest for spiritual exercises, as prayer, reading and meditation, and also for the civill duties of our callings. It maketh likewise that which remaineth, less serviceable and profitable for any good use; for when our strength is repaired by moderate rest, excessive sleep weakeneth us again, making our bodies heavy and lumpish, and less able and active for any good employment; and as we consumed the fore-part of the morning in drowsy sleeping, so the latter part in lazy stretching and slothful yawning, making us sluggish with too much sleeping, as the drunkard becometh more dry with too much drinking. And when the spirits are refreshed and quickened with moderate sleep, by that which is excessive they become dull again, and being drowned and stupefied with slothful vapours, they are made unfit instruments to the soul for any good actions and employments. Whereby we are notably hindered both in the duties of Gods service, and in the duties of our callings, not only because it consumeth much of our time, which should be spent in them, but also greatly disableth us in that which remaineth, when we set our selves to pray, hear the Word, read, meditate, or any civill duties which belong unto us. Finally, this excessive sleeping is exceeding hurtful both for our souls, bodies and states; for it hurteth the brain, dulleth the wit, and much impaireth the memory, making all these faculties unfit for their functions and operations. It breedeth obstructions and superfluous humours, and so filleth the body with innumerable diseases. It impoverisheth the estate, and bringeth them who immoderately use it (if they be of mean condition) to beggary and penury; and much disableth those who are wealthy, to the works of mercy and Christian charity. And on this mischief accompanying sloth and sluggishness, the Wise Solomon much insisteth: