A20762:2108
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. 4 That the devout Reader is not to read many books of the same argument, but to make choice of some few which are best.
§. Sect. 4 That the deuoute Reader is not to reade many bookes of the same argument, but to make choyce of some few which are best.
The fourth rule of direction, which I would commend to the devout Christian in his reading, for the better enabling of him in the duties of a godly life (for I do not take upon me to prescribe directions unto the learned in their studies, but rather desire to be directed by them) is, that they make choice, not of many books of the same argument, but of such as either in their own judgements & experience, or by the direction of others, they know to be best and fittest, for the informing of their judgements, in all things necessary for their salvation, and sanctifying of their hearts and affections, & that they do not so much affect the reading of many Authors, as to study thoroughly those which they do read, & by distinguishing them through serious meditation, to turn them in wholesome nourishment for the preserving of their spiritual health, and the strengthening of them in all the graces ⟨p. 644⟩of Gods Spirit. For there is no end of making, so neither of reading many books; and much reading in this kind, is a weariness to the flesh. 1And therefore as those which are invited to a great feast, do not, if they have care of their health, eat a little of every dish, or more then their stomachs can well digest, seeing the superfluities would turn to crudities, and breed ill humours and obstructions in the body: so in that great variety of spiritual food, which in these days is set before us, cooked and dressed after divers manners, it is not the best course for a Christian, who hath a care of his souls health, to feed of many or more then he is able by meditation to digest, seeing this would but the more weaken and confound the memory, and unsettle his judgement, so as he cannot tell what to take and what to leave, and fill his mind with raw conceits and indigested opinions; but to make choice of some of the most approved Authors in every kind, and to study thoroughly, till he hath turned them to good nourishment, and doth feel his soul refreshed and strengthened by them. And as it is not the best way for any that intendeth to make himself a good States-man, to ramble and run over in his travails, many countries, seeing much, and making use of little for the improving of his knowledge and experience in State-policy; but rather to stay so long in every place, till he have noted those things which are best worthy his observation;