A20762:770
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. 1 That we must conform our thoughts, words, and actions, according to Gods Law.
§. Sect. 1 That we must conforme our thoughts, words, and actions, according to Gods Law.
The fifth main duty wherein we are daily to exercise our selves, is, that we rightly dispose of all our thoughts, words, and actions, so as they may in all things be conformable 1to the Law of God. In respect of our thoughts, our care must be, that we be not earthly minded, like Citizens of the world, nor suffer them to be fixed and fastened upon earthly and momentany vanities, which profit not; as how we may get or keep the honours, riches, and pleasures of the world, by carnal and unlawful means, which are too base objects for them which are of so high and divine a nature; but that they be chiefly taken up, and exercised about spiritual, holy, and heavenly things: as of their excellency, profit, and necessity, by what means we may obtain, or having them in some measure, may be more enriched with them; how we may safely keep them and be secured from fear of losing them. How we may be more and more united unto Christ, and assured that both he and all his benefits do belong unto us. How we are so to carry our selves, that we may more sensibly and feelingly apprehend the power and efficacy of his death and resurrection working in us, and replenishing our hearts with 2sweet consolations, and joy in the holy Ghost. How we may be daily more assured of Gods grace and favour, and feel and discern the light and warmth of his loving countenance shining upon us, and inflaming our hearts with his love. How we may withstand tentations, and get mastery over our strongest corruptions; and how we may daily be more renewed and strengthened in all grace and goodness, that we may increase in bringing forth more fruits of holiness and righteousness. And with these and such like holy and heavenly meditations, our minds must chiefly be taken up; and when we exercise them about earthly things, and the duties of our callings, it must be, as upon means which tend to these ends, and (like birds) we must use the earth as a help to raise up our selves, and to gather wing, that we may soar aloft in heavenly meditations. The which we shall do, if we perform the works of our callings, in faith and a good conscience, in love and obedience unto God, as duties of his service which he hath required at our hands, with prayer for good success and thanksgiving, when by Gods blessing we have obtained it;