A20762:2734
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 no business is of like moment, as by serving God to save our souls.
§. Sect. 3 That no businesse is of like moment, as by seruing God to saue our soules.
Neither is there any worldly business of like moment and importance, as by serving God, to seek and assure the salvation of our souls. ⟨p. 860⟩For this, as our Saviour teacheth us, is that one thing necessary, in comparison 1whereof, all other things must be neglected, though they were of as high a nature as Martha's employment, to give entertainment unto Christ himself. Of which, if we were well persuaded, and did esteem spiritual and heavenly things, according to their true worth, we, who can in our greatest employments find some spare time to spend about earthly trifles of small value, would not only be straitened and scanted of it for religious exercises. Let no man (saith one) think it a lawful excuse 2to allege his businesses of state, nor complain of his employments in the wars; seeing with every faithful man the Christian warfare ought first to be undertaken. And this was Davids judgement, who esteemed the Law of the Lord better unto him, then thousands of gold and silver. The which was seconded by his affection; for as he professeth, he loved Gods Commandments above gold, yea above fine gold. So Solomon, or rather the eternal Wisdom of God by him, teacheth us to esteem our spiritual trading for the good of our souls, above the merchandise of silver, and the 3