A20762:899
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 That we must make choice of lawful callings.
§ Sect. 1 That we must make choyce of lawfull callings.
Having thus begun the day by the performance of these religious duties, we must in the next place betake our selves to the duties of our lawful callings. Neither can we sufficiently approve our selves unto God, if we do not join these with the other, for he will be served, not only in the general duties of Christianity, but also in those special duties which are peculiar unto those places and callings in which he hath set us, either in the Church ⟨p. 244⟩or Common-wealth. Neither is it sufficient for him who is called to be a Magistrate, Minister, Master of a family, or servant, that he perform those duties which are common unto him with all Christians, unless he also with like care and endeavour, perform those special duties which belong to his own place and calling. And here first is required, that our calling be lawful, and agreeable to Gods will and Word; that is, such an one, as our labours in it may tend to Gods glory, the good of the Church and Common wealth, and the furthering not only of our temporal, but also our spiritual good, and the eternal salvation of our souls; and not such as being unlawful hindereth these ends; as those that live by unlawful Arts and Trades, Players, Gamesters, and such like; for then the greater pains we take in such callings, the greater is our sin, the more we dishonour God, hurt our neighbours, and hinder our own salvation. Secondly, that we be in some measure qualified with such gifts as are fit for our callings; for those whom God calleth unto any place, he furnisheth them with such competency of gifts, as that they may profitably perform the duties required unto it. And if our calling be lawful, and we thus fitted for it, then may we say with the Apostle Paul, that we are called by the will of God, and may with cheerfulness