A20762:850
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. 5 That we must pray in humility, and with reverence and fervency.
§. Sect. 5 That we must pray in humility, and with reuerence and feruencie.
In respect of our hearts there are divers things required. First, humility, whereby we abase our selves in the sight and sense of our own vileness and unworthiness, unfeignedly acknowledging, that we are not worthy to tread upon the earth, or to look up unto heaven, much less to appear in Gods glorious presence, or to make any suites and supplications unto him. And therefore rejecting all Pharisaical conceit of our own works and worthiness, we are to confess with Abraham, that we are but dust and ashes; with Jacob, that we are less then the least of Gods mercies, 1with David, that we are worms, and no men; with Isaiah, that we are men of polluted lips; with the prodigal Son, that we are not worthy to be called Gods children; with the Publican, that we are miserable sinners; yea with the Apostle Paul, that of all sinners we are the chief. And this humility will be a notable means to confirm our faith in this assurance, that we shall be received into grace and favour with God, and that he will hear and grant all our Petitions. For he will look unto him that is poor and of a contrite spirit; 2he is near unto him, and will dwell with him; with this sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart, wherein he chiefly delighteth, he is made propitious, and will be ready to hear his suites; for he forgetteth not the cry of the humble, but he heareth their prayer, and will prepare their heart, and will cause his ear to hear, as the Psalmist speaketh. The second thing required in our hearts, is reverence, unto which David exhorteth: Serve the Lord with reverence,