A20762:1815
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
Book 5 › Chapter 15 › Section 4: §. Sect. 4 The singular profit of ordinary meditation.
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 The singular profit of ordinary meditation.
To which purpose let us further consider, that as this kind of meditation is above all other most excellent, so also it exceedeth in use and profit. For it is the spiritual food of the souls, by which they live and thrive in all saving graces, and are strengthened unto the performance of all Christian duties. It weaneth our souls from the world and worldly vanities, and sequestereth and appropriateth them to religious uses. More especially, it enlighteneth our understanding, and maketh us in discoursing of spiritual things, to see them much more clearly and perfectly; for as we are wont to say of our bodily parts and members, Use them and have them, because their exercise is the means to continue their health, and increase their strength; so may it also be truly said of the inward faculties of the soul, the understanding and discourse of reason, which if they be used, grow more strong and vigorous; but if we accustom them to sloth and idleness, they will soon languish, and wax faint and weak in their functions and operations. Now by this enlightening of the mind, we come to a more clear knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, whom to 1know is life eternal. By it we understand more perfectly his Word and will, (in which respect meditation may be fitly called the hearts commentary) and are thereby guided in the way of his Commandments. For if by meditation we bind them continually upon our hearts, when we go, they 2shall lead us, as the Wise man speaketh. By it also we attain unto the true knowledge of our selves, and of our own hearts, which are so deceitful, that they cannot otherwise be well discerned. For as our Saviour hath 3taught us, such as the thoughts are, such also is the heart; such as the streams are, such likewise is the fountain from which they spring. And therefore evil thoughts do argue an evil heart; even as contrariwise, good thoughts, and holy meditations, do show that the heart is good also. For howsoever our words and works are liable to much hypocrisy, because in them we may often aim at worldly respects, and to approve our selves unto men, rather then unto God; yet it is not so with our thoughts, which are only known to God and our own consciences, and not subject to the view and censure of any other.