A20762:831
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 Their objection answered, who pretend want of leisure to pray.
§. Sect. 2 Their obiection answered, who pretend want of leisure to pray.
Neither let any man pretend his small leisure, by reason of his weighty business and manifold employments, as an excuse to warrant him for the neglect of a duty so high and holy, so excellent, profitable and necessary: unless he will say, that he hath no leisure to be saved, to glorify God, or enrich himself with his graces and blessings, or to get the evidences of everlasting glory and happiness into his own keeping: and that he is so taken up with worldly employments, that he hath no leisure to seek any acquaintance with God, to avoid his curse, or obtain his blessing; to go to heaven, or escape hell. For shame therefore let us cast away these no less profane then frivolous excuses: and to this end further consider, that the greater and more important our business is, the more need we have to implore by hearty prayer, the blessing of God upon our labours and endeavours, before we undertake them, without which, all our policy, labour and endeavour, will be spent in vain, either because we shall not achieve the thing which we attempt; or if we do, yet in Gods just judgement it shall become unto us a curse, rather then a blessing. Consider further, how much time thou daily spendest in doing nothing, or that which ⟨p. 223⟩is ill, and worse then nothing: How much time in needless curiosity about thy body, in dressing and feeding it, and in vain discourses about things that profit not, yea corrupt rather then edify thee: How much in unlawful or superfluous sports and recreations: in carding, dicing, masking, revelling, hunting, hawking, beholding vain sights and wanton interludes: and blush for shame, that thou canst find time enough, in thy greatest employments, for the satisfying of thy fleshly lusts, and only wantest leisure to serve thy God, and save thine own soul. Finally, let us consider the unwearied watchfulness of all the Saints of God in all ages, in attending upon this duty, that they might frequently and fervently perform it day and night; and set before us the example of our Saviour Christ himself, who spent mornings and evenings, yea whole nights in praying for us. Which if we neglect to do for our selves, what do we but disclaim that holy communion, and show plainly that we are not in that number?