A20762:2095
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 That we must come with a purpose to make good use of all we read.
§. Sect. 3 That we must come with a purpose to make good vse of all we reade.
Finally, in our preparation, we must come to reading, with a purpose ⟨p. 640⟩and resolution to draw all we read unto our own particular use, either for the informing of our judgements, or sanctifying of our affections, or reforming of our lives, by putting those good duties in practice which we know and learn. The which purpose David expresseth in these words, Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy Commandments, and I will keep them unto 1the end. Otherwise we can have no assurance that God will by our reading enlighten our minds, and increase our knowledge: for why should be give us more, if we make no good use of that we have? Yea, why should he not rather take away his Talent, if we hide it unprofitably in a napkin? or at least, leave it with us to increase our account, and with it our punishment? for the servant that knoweth his Masters will, and doth it not, shall be 2beaten with many stripes. Let therefore (as one exhorteth) the holy Scriptures 3be always in thy hands, and meditate on them in thy mind; yet do not think it sufficient for thee to have Gods Laws in thy memory, if thou forgettest them in thy works, but therefore know them, that thou mayest do what thou knowest; for not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of it are justified. And as the same Author persuadeth in another place; So read the holy Scriptures, as that thou always remember them to be the Word of God, who requireth not only that we should know his Law, but also fulfil and obey it. For it profiteth not to know such things as ought to be done, and not to do them. Thou usest well thy reading of Divinity, if thou settest it as a glass before thee, that thy soul may behold it self by looking in it, and may either amend deformities and blemishes, or more adorn it self, where it is already beautiful.