A20762:784
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 ordinary prayers at set times, and how often to be performed.
§. Sect. 2 Of ordinary prayers at set times, and how often to bee performed.
Concerning our ordinary prayers, they are for the most part limited to set and ordinary times, although we are not to be so strictly tied to our hours, but that they may be changed from one to another upon necessary occasions. And they ought to be performed in a solemn manner, with due preparation, conjoining together the parts of prayer, confession, petition and thanksgiving, with due respect both of place and time. Neither are these prayers to be continued throughout the whole day, but in the several parts thereof, as shall best fit with our occasions, and also with our zeal and devotion. Notwithstanding we are to pray even after this manner, not once only, but often; according to the examples of the Saints in former times. So David professeth, that he prayed unto God in 1the morning, at noon and in the evening; and Daniel so stinteth himself to solemn prayer upon his knees three times a day, that he would not neglect it upon any occasion. And howsoever no man can stint these set times of prayer unto a certain number, but it must be left to be measured out according to several occasions, leisure, opportunity and the proportion of every ones gift of grace, faith, zeal and devotion which they have received; which being so various, divers and different, it is no more possible to appoint a certain measure unto them, then a size of apparel to fit every ones body, or a proportion of meat which should satisfy every ones appetite. Or if we should; what were it, but (like the Tyrant, that would have one bed to serve for men of all statures) to rack out and torture the over-short devotion of those that are children in Christ; and to maim and cut theirs shorter, who are men grown and come to a perfect age? Yet seeing all Scriptures are written for our learning, me thinks these examples should not be in vain, but well-befitting, for the most of Gods children to follow and imitate, especially in this light of the Gospel, and when the gifts of the Spirit do so abound. And therefore I would persuade all good Christians, that besides their prayers and