A20762:1366
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. 1 That we must meditate upon that which we have heard.
§. Sect. 1 That we must meditate vpon that which we haue heard.
And these are the public duties of Gods service, which we are to perform on his Holy-day. The private duties are divers. The first is, that at our coming home we meditate upon those things which we have heard, and not only carefully recall them to our remembrance, that they may be imprinted in our memories, but also apply them unto our own use, for the sanctifying of our hearts and affections, and the reforming of our lives and conversations, purposing with a full resolution, that we will put in practice whatsoever we have learned, both in the forsaking of those vices and sins which we have heard condemned, and the embracing and performing of those virtues and Christian duties which have been commended unto us. For if we do not thus make it our own, and (as it were) cover this holy seed of Gods Word in the furrows of our hearts, the devil will steal it away, as the birds do the seed that falleth by the high way, and make it altogether unfruitful, so that after much hearing we shall still remain children in knowledge, and in the spiritual growth of grace and godliness, and like riven and leaking vessels, retain little or nothing of this precious liquor, because it runneth out as fast as it cometh in. Secondly, with this Meditation we are to loin fervent and effectual prayer, desiring Gods blessing upon that which we have heard, whereby it may be made effectual for his glory and our own salvation; and the gracious assistance of his holy Spirit, to bring home not only to our memories, but also to our hearts & consciences, those things which we have heard and learned, that we may, as occasion serveth, fruitfully practise them in the whole course of our lives; concluding these our prayers with praise and thanksgiving unto God for this gracious liberty, in enjoying his Sabbaths, and in them the exercises of Religion & means of our salvation.