A20762:1643
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. 6 Of the duties of the people, respecting the Ministry of the Word.
§. Sect. 6 Of the duties of the people, respecting the Ministery of the Word.
The consideration whereof, as it should effectually move Gods Ministers to take such a course in their preaching, as is most fit and profitable for 1their hearers, and denying themselves, and the praise of their great learning and gifts in the work of their Ministry, to become as weak to those that are weak, that they may gain them to Christ; so also should it move the people, who desire to be built up in saving knowledge, and in the practice of all holy duties belonging to a godly life, to affect such teachers, as being learned and sufficient, do conscionably apply themselves to their capacity, for their instruction and edification. To which purpose, they must strive with God in their fervent prayers, that he will send such labourers into 2his harvest; and in humility and submissive obedience, as their place and calling will permit, labour by earnest suite with superior Magistrates over Church and Common wealth, and especially with Patrons and disposers of Church-preferments, that they will provide and set over them such faithful and painful Pastors, as will feed them with food convenient for the preserving of their souls in spiritual life, and the nourishing and increasing of Gods graces in them; not foolishly affecting and admiring (as it is common with those that are most ignorant) such teachers, as desiring the praise of their great learning, more then the salvation of their peoples souls, do most exceed the short reach of their shallow capacities; like unto cold stomachs, which have a greedy appetite after meats of hard digestion, but when they have received them, for want of natural heat turn them into wind, which affecteth their brain with noisome vapours, and are not able to convert them into any wholesome nourishment. Secondly, their care must be, as much as in them lieth, and the necessary preservation of their state will suffer them, to place themselves under such a Ministry, as will help them forward in their spiritual thrift and growth of grace, and counting (according to Mary's choice, and our Saviours approbation) this one thing necessary, let them prefer it before all worldly