A20762:1830
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. 3 Their objection answered, who pretend want of matter to meditate upon.
§. Sect. 3 Their obiection answered, who pretend want of matter to meditate vpon.
Thirdly, we are ready to object want of matter to meditate upon, and that we are so barren in our invention, that the fire of our devotion is ready to go out as soon as it is kindled, for want of this fuel to nourish and preserve it. But this is to excuse one negligence with another, seeing the Lord hath set before us, and even put into our hands the large Volume of his Creatures, and the Book of holy Scriptures, in both which, there is abundant matter of Meditation, if we had but the hearts to view and read them; besides, the consideration of our own misery, our manifold sins and corruptions, wants and imperfections, Gods manifold mercies, and innumerable blessings vouchsafed unto us, the administration of his judgements, and such like, of which I shall have occasion to speak more hereafter. And therefore there being no want of good seed, we have no cause to complain of any thing but the barrenness of our hearts, and their averseness to good things, if they bring not forth, in this kind, plentiful fruits. The which, as it is to be bewailed with true sorrow, that we who ⟨p. 549⟩have matter enough to think and meditate upon in worldly things, for a whole year together, though none be prepared to our hands, being herein such quick Workmen, that we can both gather our straw, and burn our brick in full tale, should be so barren of matter, when we come to think of things spiritual and heavenly; so it must move us with so much the more diligence and earnestness to read and study the Scriptures, and to observe the works of God, and finding our emptiness, to resort to Gods store-houses (like the Egyptians to Josephs) that we may be filled with such provision as he hath made for us, and have no more cause to complain of want.