A20762:1301
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 Of our general preparation in the whole week.
§. Sect. 2 Of our general preparation in the whole weeke.
Now this preparation is either general or more special. The general, is in the whole week before, by performing those Christian and religious duties, of which I have formerly entreated. For if the heart be kept continually in good plight and order, seasoned with the love of piety, and settled in a good course, then the duties of the Lords day will be easy and familiar, sweet and delightful. And as he that keepeth himself in breath by running every day, holdeth out well when he is put to his best speed, and runneth that race for the getting of the Garland; whereas he who taketh his ease, is pursy and short-winded, and running with much pain and difficulty, tyreth before he come to the goal; so if we would every day inure our selves to run our spiritual race, in the performance of all holy duties, we should find our selves long-winded, active, and able to hold out, when as on the Lords Day we are put (as it were) to our best speed, for the obtaining of the Garland of grace, and Crown of glory: whereas if we spend the week in slothful ease, and pamper our selves to the full with sensual delights; If we give our hearts liberty to range after worldly vanities, and fix them wholly upon earthly pleasures and profits; if we let our tongues loose to discourse only of sensual and terrene affairs, and never acquaint them with the language of Canaan; and if all our actions being suitable to them both, are wholly employed about temporary objects; then shall we find it impossible on the Lords day to withdraw them from their common haunt; seeing for want of use, religious exercises will be tedious and unpleasant unto us, and though we with some force bring them to holy duties, yet finding no taste nor delight in them, they will ever and anon steal away, or violently break from us, and rove and range after worldly vanities.