A20762:2129
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.
CAP. XXXI.
That reading is a notable means to further us in the duties of a godly life.
That reading is a notable meanes to further vs in the duties of a godly life.
§. Sect. 1 That reading is a most profitable exercise.
The second main point which I propounded, is, that reading of the Scriptures, and other holy and religious books, is a notable help and furtherance unto a godly life. The which may easily be understood by that which is already spoken, and needeth not any large discourse to prove it. And yet it will not be amiss to say something of it, not so much to inform or convince the judgement of the truth, as to persuade the heart to put it in practice. And first, generally it may be said, that to what uses soever the Scriptures are profitable and necessary, to the same purposes reading of them, which is the means whereby we derive from them these benefits, is necessary and profitable; seeing though they be a most rich treasury of all goodness, yet they will do us little good, if they be locked up, and not by reading and preaching opened unto us. So that we may truly say, that reading of the Scriptures doth nourish our souls, seeing it conveyeth unto them the food whereby they are nourished; that it cureth us of all our spiritual sores and sicknesses, seeing it conveyeth and applieth unto us the sovereign salves and medicines whereby we are recovered; that it guideth us in the way of truth, because it openeth unto us the light, which serveth to direct us. Yea, it serveth to all uses and purposes, whereby we may be furthered in all duties of godliness, seeing it discovereth unto us that divine brightness of the supreme and uncreated wisdom, the reading whereof (as one