A20762:1362
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. 5 Of our duties to be performed when Baptism is administered.
§. Sect. 5 Of our duties to be performed when Baptisme is administred.
So likewise if the Sacrament of Baptism be administered, we are not to depart, before this holy action be finished, but to continue in the Congregation, not as idle spectators, but as being tied hereby to perform divers Christian duties both unto God, our selves, and the party baptized. In respect of God, we are to stay the administration of this Sacrament, that we may show our reverence to his holy ordinances, and glorify his blessed Name, for granting unto his Church and us, the use of them. Secondly, in respect of our selves, that we may renew our Covenant with God, by calling it afresh to our remembrance, together with his sweet mercies, and gracious promises in Jesus Christ; and also our own vow and covenant which we have made with him in our Baptism, that we may renew our resolutions and endeavours to perform it daily in ⟨p. 397⟩more perfection, and in the mean time take occasion upon our slips and failings to bewail our wants and imperfections. That we may also call to mind what fruits we have found of our Baptism, and whether we have felt the virtue of Christ Jesus his death effectual for the mortification of our sinful corruptions, and of his Resurrection for our spiritual quickening unto newness of life. Lastly, in respect of the party baptized we ought to stay, that we may perform unto him such Christian duties as God requireth. First, to commend him unto God by our prayers, that he may be truly regenerate, engrafted into the body of Christ as a lively member, and so made partaker of his death, merits, and all his benefits. Secondly, that we may, as free-men of this Christian Corporation by our presence, give our assent to his outward admission into the Congregation. And finally, that we may, with the rest of the people, join in praising and giving thanks unto God in his behalf, for admitting him as a new member into the communion of Saints, and entertaining him for a servant of his own family. All which duties we neglect, if we depart before the celebration of the Sacrament, and as much as in us lieth, make them utterly void by our ill example; for if all should do as we do (as every one may think such liberty belongeth unto him, which he seeth taken by another) there should not any at all be left to perform them.