A20762:601
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 Of outward duties here required, respecting the person of our neighbours.
The outward duties, tending to the preservation of our neighbours 1person and life, respect our words or deeds. In respect of the former, there is required, that we have a peaceable tongue, which speaketh all good and no evil, to and of our neighbours. Unto them, we must use ⟨p. 153⟩loving and courteous speeches, and abstain from all brawling and scolding, railing and reviling, scoffing and scorning, unchristian menacings towards inferiors, and murmuring towards superiors; and cursings and imprecations towards any man. And of them, we must not behind their backs use tale-bearing, and slandering, nor lend our ears to those who offer these wrongs unto them. In respect of our deeds, all our works and actions must tend to the preservation and defence of our neighbours life and person, but especially of his immortal soul, which ought, as it is most precious in it self, so to be most dear unto us. In which regard, we must omit no duty which may defend and preserve the life and person of our neighbours, when we can and may lawfully perform it. We must not by our negligence leave any thing undone, nor by our wilfulness do any thing whereby they may be endangered. Neither must we commit any act which tendeth to his hurt and hazard. But we must have peaceable hands, and not in time of peace, quarrel and fight; and innocent hands, free and clean from blood, neither hurting and wounding the body of our neighbours, nor killing and taking away his life; but contrariwise we must be beneficent, and in all our actions do them all good; using humanity and mercy to all, and brotherly love and kindness towards those who are of the household of faith.