A20762:880
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. 6 Of the time in the morning when we are to use private prayer.
§. Sect. 6 Of the time in the morning when we are to vse priuate prayer.
The last direction which I will set down for our private prayer in the morning, respecteth the time when it is to be performed; of which, though I can give no necessary rule, because all mens occasions and opportunities are not alike, yet for the greatest part it is most convenient that we do it betimes, as soon as we are ready, before we undertake any worldly business, and have our minds taken up with any earthly thoughts: Because we shall then be most free from all incumbrances which may distract us in this holy exercise, and make us less fit to perform it as we ought; as also, because if we offer unto God the first fruits of our thoughts and affections, they will sanctify all our following endeavours, and season them so with holiness, that they will become more acceptable unto God. Or if some extraordinary occasion and weighty business have caused us to defer it, our second care must be, that we do not neglect it altogether, but sequestring our minds and affections from all earthly thoughts and worldly employments, we must take the next and best opportunity which shall be offered unto us; and think ⟨p. 239⟩no excuse or business so important, as may make us utterly to omit it.
The last direction which I will set downe for our priuate prayer in the morning, respecteth the time when it is to bee performed; of which, though I can giue no necessary rule, because all mens occasions and opportunities are not alike, yet for the greatest part it is most conuenient that we doe it betimes, as soone as we are ready, before wee vndertake any worldly businesse, and haue our mindes taken vp with any earthly thoughts: Because wee shall then bee most free from all incumbrances which may distract vs in this holy exercise, and make vs lesse fit to performe it as wee ought; as also, because if we offer vnto God the first fruits of our thoughts and affections, they will sanctifie all our following indeuours, and season them so with holinesse, that they will become more acceptable vnto God. Or if some extraordinary occasion and waighty businesse haue caused vs to deferre it, our second care must bee, that wee doe not neglect it altogether, but sequestring our mindes and affections from all earthly thoughts and wordly imployments, wee must take the next and best opportunity which shall bee offered vnto vs; and thinke