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

Moreover, the flesh is ready to object, that howsoever this strict performance of Christian duties be required of Ministers, who have more knowledge, and many helps which many others want, and also fewer lets and distractions, having by reason of their small employments about worldly things, little else to do, then to attend unto spiritual exercises; yet those who are of the common sort of people, as Trades-men, Artificers, and Husbandmen, cannot by the same reason be so strictly tied to religious duties, seeing they are simple, ignorant, and unlettered, and have much more business and employment in the works of their calling. To which I answer first, that though Ministers be tied to exercise themselves, above all others, in those personal duties which belong to their special calling, as reading, Meditation, and study in the Scriptures, and other religious duties, which are more proper and peculiar unto them: yet the general duties of Christianity, as Prayer, Thanksgiving, receiving the Sacrament, watchfulness, and such like, do lye out in common, both to them and all other men that are true members of the Church. In regard whereof, there is no distinction or difference between one and another, seeing our Saviour Christ having with his precious Blood washed us all from our sins, hath made us all alike, Kings and Priests, unto God and his Father. Neither ¹hath he selected some only from among the rest, unto whom he hath appropriated the religious duties of Gods service, but hath made us altogether indifferently, a chosen generation, a royal Priesthood, an holy Nation, a