A20762:1323
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 That on the Lords Day we must abstain from carnal recreations.
§. Sect. 3 That on the Lords Day we must abstaine from carnall recreations.
Now if any object, that to deprive us of these recreations, is to take away all the joy and comfort of our lives; to this I answer, that it is an objection which altogether misbeseemeth a Christian. For howsoever Infidels and carnal worldlings may rejoice chiefly in them, as having no greater cause of joy and comfort; yet it ought not to be so with the faithful, who should chiefly rejoice in the Lord, and in the pledges and testimonies of his love and favour, in their Communion with him, who is their 1summum bonum, and chief happiness, and the visible signs of his gracious presence; unto which spiritual joy David exhorteth; Delight thy 2self in the Lord, and he shall give the desires of thine heart. Of which, he in many places propoundeth himself as an example for our imitation. Secondly, if we be spiritually, and not carnally and worldly-minded, we may make the Lords Day it self our delight, as he requireth, which if we 3do, then we shall indeed find sweet delight in the Lord. For what greater delight can there be to a Christian, then to praise God by singing of Psalms, who hath been so good and gracious unto us? then to hear the Word, whereby God assureth us of his favour, and of the pardon of our sins, and receive the Sacrament, whereby it is sealed and assured unto us? then to feast our souls at this spiritual banquet, and afterwards meditate ⟨p. 385⟩on, and peruse our spiritual evidences, whereby the assurance of heavenly happiness is conveyed unto us? then to be assured that we are redeemed out of the hands of all our spiritual enemies, and restored to the glorious liberty of the Sons of God? then to solace our selves in the sweet society of Christ our Bridegroom in his Banqueting-house, and to be stayed and comforted with his flagons of wine, apples, and kind embracements?