A20762:60
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.
CAP. I.
Containing the Preface to the following Treatise, which showeth the excellency, profit and necessity of the subject matter therein handled.
Containing the Preface to the following Treatise, which sheweth the excellencie, profit and necessity of the subiect matter therein handled.
§. Sect. 1 That the end of every thing is to be preferred before the means which are destinated unto it.
§. Sect. 1 That the end of euery thing is to be preferred before the meanes which are destinated vnto it.
According to the rules of reason, we esteem the end of all things to be the best, and to be preferred before the things which are destinated to the achieving of it; and every thing as it doth more of less conduce hereunto, so doth it gain or lose a higher place in the work of excellency; because that which advanceth the end, most furthereth that which is most to be desired, namely, perfection and fruition. Thus the end of Physic is health, and therefore, that Physic is to be esteemed best, which most soundly and surely confirmeth or recovereth it. The end of Law is Justice, that every man may quietly enjoy his own, and therefore, that Law and practice of it, is to be chiefly esteemed (not which through the help of Sophistical wit and audacious skill, filleth the Lawyers purse, by protracting suites, and hindering or delaying the course of Justice, but) which best helpeth the Client to the speediest and surest recovery of his right. The end of War is Peace, and therefore, that war to be preferred, which being just, always endeth in such a peace as is sure, secure and permanent. Thus man, being the end of all unreasonable creatures in the heavens and earth, they being made for his use and benefit, is in this regard to be advanced in excellency above them all; and every creature to be esteemed more or less good; as they more or less tend to mans benefit and blessedness. And finally, because Almighty God is the supreme end, he is also the chief Good, and all creatures to be esteemed in worth and excellency, as they most serve for the magnifying of their Lord and Creator, and the advancement of his glory for which end they have their being.