A20762:1618
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. 4 That if we desire to grow in grace, we must carefully use the means which may further us in it, and what these means are.
§. Sect. 4 That if we desire to grow in grace, we must carefully vse the meanes which may further vs in it, and what these meanes are.
Now if we would attain to this Christian growth, we must use all good means which may further us in it: for in vain he professeth his great desire to be rich, who neglecteth all good husbandry and means of thriving; or to grow in strength and stature, who will not use food and clothing, which are the ordinary means to attain unto them. Yea, if we desire spiritual growth in grace and goodness, we must take more then usual pains, seeing as to the augmenting of the body, there is required more meat, and better concoction, then for the preserving of it in that stature and strength unto which it hath already attained; so unto our growth in grace, and increasing of our spiritual stature, it is necessary that we more diligently use the means, and receive the food of our souls in greater quantity, and with better stomachs, then only to hold (as we say) life and soul together, and to preserve our graces in their bare being and present plight. Now the means of increasing in grace, and proceeding in the practice of all Christian duties, are the same by which they had their first beginnings; as the careful and conscionable hearing of the Word preached; for we must, like new-borne babes, desire the sincere 1milk of the Word, (which is also the seed of our Regeneration and new birth) if ever we mean to grow up thereby. So also the reading of the Word, and use of the Sacraments, meditation, holy conferences, of which we have spoken in part, and shall say more in the following discourse. But above all, invocation and prayer, desiring God, who is the Author of our spiritual birth and being, and also of our preservation and growth in godliness, that he will perfect his good 2work which he hath begun in us, sanctify us throughout in our souls and bodies, and bring us from one degree to another, till at last we come to a perfect man in Christ; whereof we have the holy Apostles in many places as fit precedents and examples, who by their fervent prayers crave at Gods hands this growth in grace for themselves and others. Finally, if we would be good proficients in Gods service, we must often think of the worthiness and excellency of our heavenly Master, who is the chief Goodness, and infinite in all perfection, and therefore, above all, deserveth our best pains and diligence;