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

§. 5 The fifth remedy is, to esteem much of private admonitions.

§. 5 The fift remedie is, to esteeme much of priuate admonitions.

The fifth means is, that we much esteem the private admonitions and reprehensions of our godly and faithful friends. For in nothing ¹more then this, is the saying of the wise Man verified; Two are better then one, for if they fall, the one will help up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. When men are apt through their drowsy sloth to neglect their weighty business, or to forslow their journey by over-sleeping themselves, they hold it a great kindness in those that will awaken them, and call them up betimes, though it be not pleasant for the instant to be broken of their sleep. But what business so weighty, as to make our election and calling sure? what journey more important then to travail towards our heavenly Country? and wherein are we more sluggish and apt to lose our best opportunities, by over-sleeping our selves in carnal security, if we be not roused up and awakened with the admonitions, exhortations, and necessary reproofs of our faithful ⟨p. 78⟩friends? Those that are falling into a Lethargy, being unable to refrain sleeping, do think themselves beholding after their recovery to such about them, as by their pricking and nipping them, have kept them waking, though it may be for the present, it was a thankless office, being so distasteful to their humour and appetite; but we are prone to fall into this spiritual Lethargy of carnal security, which is more dangerous and pernicious then ten thousand bodily deaths; and therefore by so much more are we to esteem the kind office of such a faithful friend, who by the nips and pricks of admonitions and reproofs, doth keep us from falling or continuing in this sleep of death. When our bodily sores begin to fester at the bottom, and to breed dead flesh, and when our bodies abound with hurtful humours, we not only voluntarily send for the Chirurgeon and Physician, but thank and reward them, though to our smart and pain, they use, to cure us, corrosives and strong potions. And shall we not be as careful for the recovery of our souls, and as thankful to those who use these good means to effect the cure, although they be distasteful; yea, painful and loathsome to our carnal sense and appetite? But it is not enough that we highly esteem those Christian duties, for our spiritual good;