A20762:870
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 forms of prayers invented by our selves.
§. Sect. 2 Of formes of prayers inuented by our selues.
Forms of prayer invented by our selves, are such, as upon due meditation and sound deliberation we have composed, out of the sight and sense of our sins and wants, and Gods mercies multiplied upon us, not only general, but also special and particular, framing confessions, petitions and thanksgivings, so as they may be most fitting for our own peculiar use. The which are necessary for such as are not thoroughly grounded in knowledge, nor perfected in this duty by much experience and practice; and for such also as being well qualified in these respects, are notwithstanding defective in memory and utterance, having no liberty of speech ⟨p. 235⟩to express their minds without much meditation, and for such also as are defective in courage and boldness, when they are to pray in the presence of others: And very profitable for all, if we tie not our selves too strictly to words, but have variety of forms for ordinary use, and by help of meditation, do upon extraordinary occasions, conceive new words for new matter, as the necessity and profit of our selves, our brethren, or the Church shall require; making particular confessions of sins which are lately committed, and do most burden the conscience, and special petitions for those special graces wherein we find our selves most defective, and whereof we have presently most use, and special thanksgivings, for Gods special mercies and favours renewed upon us. The which variety of forms will take away that satiety and weariness, which always accompanieth the daily and continual use of any thing, though never so excellent; and help much to keep our minds and hearts close to this holy exercise, which are apt to be carried away with wandering thoughts, if, without any variety, we tie our selves to one only form; like a man that goeth on in a way which he is accustomed to travail, and never thinketh on the passages and turnings that are in his journey; or that singeth a tune familiar unto him by much use, and never thinketh of that he singeth.