A20762:2059
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 nothing more then prayer, maketh us godly and religious.
§. Sect. 1 That nothing more then prayer, maketh vs godly and religious.
Hitherto we have spoken of those private means of a godly life, which are to be used by our selves alone: and now it remaineth that we entreat of those which we are to use both by our selves, and also together with others. The first whereof is prayer, the which we have before handled in the chief parts and points thereof: only here we are to show, that it is a powerful and effectual means, whereby we are furthered in all the duties of a godly life. To which purpose let us know that nothing can be more available to this end, seeing there is not any thing which maketh us more godly and religious, more like unto God, and partakers of the divine nature, then this daily communion and intercourse which we have with him. For as friendship, familiarity and near society, ariseth amongst men, out of similitude of natures and manners; and contrariwise, likeness of manners and conditions groweth by degrees out of friendly acquaintance, and common conversing one with another; so that if we usually keep company, and entertain conference with wicked men, we are made wicked like them, by their society and corrupt communication, which poisoneth our manners; but if we delight to converse and talk with those which are godly and religious, we increase thereby in godliness and piety: so much more, if we often have this communion and conference with God by prayer, who is infinitely good in himself, and the Author and Fountain of all goodness which is in the creatures, we shall daily increase in all piety and holiness, and by conversing with him (like Moses) shine in his light: whereas the further we withdraw our selves from this Fountain of light and heat, goodness and perfection, the more frozen shall we be in the dregs of our sins, the more stony-hearted, and muddy-minded, and utterly unlike the divine nature. Prayer (saith one) causeth marvellous effectually an holy life, and worthily fit for Gods