A20762:1828
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. 2 The objection of natural want and weaknesses in performing this exercise answered.
§. Sect. 2 The obiection of naturall want and weakenesses in performing this exercise answered.
Secondly, we are apt to pretend our natural weakness and imbecility to perform so high and hard a duty, as the ignorance of our minds, the averseness of our hearts, the coldness of our zeal, devotion, and such like. But these wants and inabilities should not discourage us from this exercise, but move us to use it so much the rather, because it is a chief means ordained of God to increase our strength, and to bring us to more perfection. We do not, because we are weak and sickly in our bodies, abstain altogether from food and Physic, but the rather use them, that we may recover our health and strength. Yea, when our appetite is small, we force our selves, that by eating a little at once, we may get a stomach. We do not shut the windows, because the house is dark, and we dimsighted; but are ready the sooner to open them, to let in the light, of which we stand in need more then others, in respect of our natural defects, that we may the better dispatch our business; and the colder we feel our selves, the more necessary we think it to come unto the fire, or to use some exercise, that we may recover our natural heat. And so in like manner, the sight of these defects should not hinder us from this exercise; seeing it is the means to enlighten our minds with more knowledge, to get spiritual health and strength, whereby we may be enabled to perform this and all other good duties daily in more perfection; and to warm our cold and frozen hearts, that we may perform service unto God, with more heat of godly zeal and fervour of devotion. Besides, though we be not able of our selves, so much as to think a good thought, yet if in obedience to God we use this his holy Ordinance, he will enable us unto it, being allsufficient to make us both to think and do whatsoever he requireth at our hands.