A20762:2166
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. 9 That by good company we are fitted to perform Christian duties one towards another.
§. Sect. 9 That by good company wee are fitted to performe Christian duties one towards another.
Lastly, good company is a singular help unto a godly life, as it fitteth and enableth us to use all Christian duties one towards another, whereby we do mutually further one another in all holy and religious actions, tending to edification, to the enriching of us with all saving graces, and the strengthening of us unto all good works. The first whereof is mutual observation, and watching over one another, that we may take all occasions of doing good, both by restraining those from sin that are ready to fall into it, and by inciting and provoking one another unto all virtuous actions. Unto which the Apostle exhorteth; Let us (saith he) consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works. For 1the Law of charity requiring, that we should love our neighbours as our selves, bindeth us to seek their good as well as our own, and to this end to watch over them, that we may take all good opportunities, whereby we may further them in the ways of godliness. And therefore let us not think that we have discharged our duty, when as we have used the means of our conversion and salvation, and that we have nothing to do with other men; seeing our Saviour requireth, that when we 2are converted, we strengthen our brethren. And the Apostle giveth us in charge, that we should not only look on our own things, but that every man should also look on the things of others. And not to take care of our brethren 3as well as our selves, is plainly to discover that we are of Cains spirit, 4who refused to be his brothers keeper, and no true members of Christs body, whose property is, not to respect their own good alone, but as it is conjoined with the good of the whole body, and of all the rest of their fellow members. The second Christian duty, is instruction, whereby with all readiness, we inform the ignorant in all the ways of godliness, enlighten them in the knowledge of God and his truth, and open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the