A20762:796
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 What things are required in the duty of thanksgiving.
§. Sect. 1 What things are required in the duty of thanksgiuing.
And as we are thus to pray daily & continually, by making our suites and petitions unto God, so also by thanksgiving, returning thanks and praise for all the benefits and blessings which we receive at his hands. Unto which duty, divers things are required; first, that it be done in the name of Christ, according to that of the Apostle, By him therefore let us offer the 1sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. Secondly, that it be done in a right manner; unto which is required, that it be done, first, not only in outward profession with the lips, but also inwardly with the soul, with all the powers and faculties of it, according to that of the Psalmist, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that 2is within me, bless his holy name. First, in our understanding we are to take notice, and rightly to conceive of Gods benefits, not only in some generality, but also of those particular blessings, which we daily and continually receive from him; that we may not be ungrateful, through ignorance and heedlessness, but have thankful minds, and so, as the Psalmist speaketh, sing praises with understanding. Neither must we only know Gods 3benefits and blessings, but also acknowledge them to be his free gifts, and that he is the principal Author and fountain of all the good which we 4either presently enjoy, or hope for in time to come; giving him the whole glory of his gifts, and not attributing them to secondary causes and inferior means; which are only his instruments by which he conferreth these gifts upon us. In our judgements, we must rightly value, and highly esteem of Gods benefits, as well when we enjoy them, as before we had them, or when they are taken from us; not extenuating, but rather amplifying his gifts to the advancing of his glory, and increasing of our thankfulness.