A20762:2290
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 godliness is the chiefest gain.
§. Sect. 1 That godlines is the chiefest gaine.
But among all other arguments which respect our selves, none are more effectual to prevail with us, then those 1which are drawn from our own profit, seeing, as the Psalmist speaketh, every man is ready to inquire, who will show them any good. And therefore if I shall plainly show that godliness is the greatest gain, and nothing in the world so profitable and beneficial to all uses and purposes, as the practice of holy and righteous duties, belonging to a Christian life; I hope it will be effectual to persuade all, who well weigh and consider the inestimable gain and profit which they shall assuredly reap unto themselves, that constantly go on in the ways of godliness, to spend their time and chief strength and ⟨p. 704⟩endeavours in that, whereby they may receive so great advantage; and to neglect the pleasures of sin, and the eager pursuit of worldly vanities, which profit not, as bringing in comparison, no true good, sound comfort, or solid contentment for the present; and when they be taken from us, or we from them (one of which must needs happen, and we know not how soon) leave nothing behind them, but woe and misery. Do not therefore (I beseech thee Christian Reader) as thou tenderest the everlasting salvation of thy precious soul, O do not suffer thine eyes to be blinded and dazzled with the sudden flashes of worldly vanities, which like lightening pass swiftly away, and leave nothing behind but black darkness, so as thou canst not discern the beauty and brightness of spiritual graces and heavenly excellencies. Do not content thy self with a slight and superficial view of these following reasons, which persuade thee for thine own good, unto the duties of a godly life, nor to have read them over with a curious eye, rather to see what may be said, then with a purpose to make use of them for thy practice of holiness, if thou be thoroughly convinced by evidence of truth shining in them: but ponder them seriously with thy self, and if thou find them to bear any weight, be persuaded by them to neglect no longer thine own good, nor to defer and put off the serving of God in the duties of a godly life, but seek first his Kingdom and righteousness, when as thou shalt plainly discern,