A20762:1673
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. 7 Thirdly, because it is the spiritual food and nourishment of our souls.
§. Sect. 7 Thirdly, because it is the spirituall food and nourishment of our soules.
Thirdly, because the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is the spiritual food of our souls, whereby they are nourished and strengthened in life 1and grace unto eternal salvation, even as our bodies are nourished with corporal food, and thereby strengthened and enabled for all actions and employments: So our Saviour saith; My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed; not to feed the body, but to comfort the soul, to preserve our spiritual life, and to strengthen us unto all duties of holiness and righteousness. And as the bodily life languisheth, and strength decayeth, if we refuse our corporal nourishment; so the vigour and life of our souls cannot continue, if we feed not upon Christ by faith; according to that vehement asseveration of our Saviour; Verily, verily, I say unto you, 2except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Yea, this Supper of the Lord is not such a spare meal, and bare Commons, as only holdeth life and soul together, and doth not revive the spirits, increase the strength, and fit us for action and employment; but it is a plentiful feast for our souls, which maketh us grow in grace and spiritual strength and stature, unto a perfect age in Christ, making them strong and vigorous unto all Christian duties of Gods service. Whereof it is, that as Baptism is called the Sacrament of our imitation and new birth, so this of our augmentation and growth in grace; affording unto us plentiful nourishment for this end. For as God is so bountiful in affording man means for the preserving his bodily life, that he alloweth him such things, not only which are absolutely necessary, but also for delight,