A20762:1347
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.
CAP. XLI.
Of the public duties of Gods service on the Lords Day.
Of the publike duties of Gods seruice on the Lords Day.
§. Sect. 1 That we must join with the Congregation in all the duties of Gods service.
§. Sect. 1 That we must ioyne with the Congregation in all the duties of Gods seruice.
And thus having placed our selves in Gods holy Assembly, we are to join with them in all duties of Gods service, with unanimity of heart, and uniformity in action and gesture, as becometh those that profess themselves to be of the same communion of Saints; carefully avoiding the proud, superstitious and ignorant practice of those, who in Gods public service make a rent in the Congregation, reading of a book when others are praying, and praying privately to themselves, when they should join with the rest of the people in the hearing of Gods Word. First then, when the Minister prayeth, we are to join with him as being our spokes-man, who in our name, as well as his own, maketh known our suits unto God, and returneth unto him praise and thanksgiving for all his benefits. In which regard, we are to accompany him in this holy exercise, with such reverence and attention, zeal and devotion, faith and fervency of spirit, as if his tongue were the interpreter of our harts. But of the duties of prayer I have spoken before, and therefore here pass them over. Secondly, we must apply our selves to hear the Word diligently and attentively, when it is read unto us by Gods Minister, not slighting it over as a duty of small moment, which we may as well perform at home; seeing this ministerial reading in the Congregation, is more effectual for our spiritual good, then our private reading; even as a Sermon preached, is more powerful and effectual then a Sermon read, because these public means are Gods holy ordinances, the which he accompanieth with his grace and holy Spirit, infusing by them more virtue and vigour into those who rightly use them, then by private exercises.