A20762:868
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 Of forms of prayer set down by others.
§. Sect. 1 Of formes of prayer set downe by others.
The last thing to be considered, respecteth the form and manner of pouring forth our souls in prayer unto God, which is either by using set forms, or contriving of prayers according to present occasions, as we are enabled thereunto by the Spirit of God. The former sort are either such as are invented by others, and learned by hearing, or reading their books and writings: or else by our selves upon due study and meditation. Both which may be lawfully and commendably used of Christians according to their several states and gifts. Written and printed forms by those who want ability to pray in their own words, or to frame their suits and petitions, and express their minds in any good manner and order. The which was one end of penning Davids Psalms, that they might by skilful Musicians be sung in the Congregation, and used also in private, both in families, and by our selves alone. And our Saviour ⟨p. 234⟩prescribed that perfect form of the Lords Prayer, not only as a rule according to which we are to frame our prayers, but also as a prayer to be used it self; and therefore as it is said in one Evangelist, After this 1manner pray ye; so in another, When ye pray, say, Our Father. And therefore as children, before they can go, are not suffered to sit still, but are trained and taught by others that hold them by the hand: so though we want spiritual strength and skill to perform this exercise by our selves, yet we must not neglect it altogether, but yield our selves to be trained by others (as the Disciples did desire of our Saviour Christ) and (as it were holding them by the hand) to use the help of their meditations. But we are not to rest in this as sufficient, without any further proceedings; for though it be fit for a child in Christ, that he may be thus trained to go alone, yet when we come to a riper age, and in respect of our means should be able to teach others, it is a shame for us, and argueth either great impotency and lameness in Religion, or else negligence, sloth, and want of exercise, if we cannot go alone, but still like children, need leading by others.