A20762:534
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. 2 Of the duty of sobriety towards our selves.
§. Sect. 2 Of the dutie of sobriety towards our selues.
The other main duty is sobriety, which comprehendeth under it all duties which respect our own persons; the which in a general sense, as 1it is to be here understood, signifieth soundness of mind, which ordereth all things to the good and safety of our persons and state. And thus the word, which is translated sobriety, is taken in the Scriptures for a sound mind; so it is said, that the demoniac was by our Saviour Christ restored to his right mind. And the Apostle saith, that he was not mad, but spake forth the words of truth and soberness, that is, of a right and sound mind, which tended to the safety and salvation of himself and others; and exhorteth all men to be wise unto sobriety, or to think soberly, not straining 2their wits above the measure of their gifts, which is the next way to crack and lose them. And thus elsewhere he opposeth these two, the one against 3the other, to be sober, and to be besides our selves. Sobriety therefore is a virtue or habit proceeding from a sound mind, spiritual wisdom and judgement, whereby we are enabled to rule and order our selves, with all our powers and faculties of mind and body, and all things else about which they are exercised to our good, safety and salvation. First, it ruleth and ordereth the mind to the using of all good means, whereby it may be more and more enlightened with saving knowledge; the memory, as a faithful register to retain good things; the conscience, to perform its office rightly in excusing and accusing; the will, to choose the good, and refuse the evil, and in all things to be conformable to the holy will of God; the affections, to covet after spiritual and heavenly things with unlimited desires, and temporal good things with moderation, temperance and purity; and the body in all holiness and honour, that it may be a fit temple for the holy Ghost, and a ready instrument unto the soul for all good actions. And thus it ruleth the whole man and every faculty and part of him, as they are exercised about their several and particular objects, causing the mind to approve or condemn; the memory to retain or cast out; the conscience to accuse or excuse, the will to choose or reject; the affections, to love and desire, or to hate and contemn;