A20762:1649
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 use preparation before the hearing of the Word, and wherein it consisteth.
§. Sect. 1 That we must vse preparation before the hearing of the Word, and wherin it consisteth.
And these are the things which are required unto the right preaching of the Word. Unto the right hearing of it, that it may be a powerful means to enrich us with Gods graces, and to strengthen us unto all Christian duties of a godly life, some things are required before we hear, some things in hearing, and some things after we have heard it. Before we hear, we must use due preparation; unto which is required first, that we enter into a serious consideration of Gods glorious presence, before whom we are to present our selves, that we may hear him speaking unto us, not of ordinary matters of small importance, but such as merely concern his glory, and the everlasting salvation of our own souls. Whereby we shall be preserved from rushing rashly into the holy assemblies, and be made careful to look unto our feet, before we enter into the House of God. For if worldly men, 1duly considering that they are going into the presence of an earthly King, to hear him speak of the weighty affairs of the Common wealth, or such things as nearly concern them in their own particular, prepare themselves accordingly, that they may be fit to come into such a royal presence; how much more should we use the like and greater care, when we are to come into the presence of the King of Kings, and to hear him speaking unto us of such things, as much more concern us and the everlasting good of our souls and bodies? Secondly, being to come unto this spiritual feast, we are to prepare our selves by getting a good appetite, that we may not idly fit by and look on, when others feed on these spiritual delicacies, for the refreshing and strengthening of their souls. To which end, we must, by renewing our repentance, purge and cleanse our souls from sinful corruptions (as our stomachs from clogging and hurtful humours) which otherwise will take away our appetite, and make us loth and refuse, or eating against stomach, not able to digest our spiritual nourishment. Of which kind are wrath, maliciousness, guile, dissimulation,