A20762:918
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. 8 Of the virtues which must accompany us in the duties of our callings.
§. Sect. 8 Of the vertues which must accompany vs in the duties of our callings.
The next thing to be considered, is the virtues which ought to accompany us in the right and religious performance of the duties of our callings. For howsoever all virtues and graces are necessary unto the person that must thus walk acceptably before God, and scarce any can be wanting to the well-performing of any good action; yet there are some which more specially and properly belong to these duties of our callings, and do so immediately concern them, that they can in no good sort be done of us, unless in some measure we be qualified with them. As first, knowledge ⟨p. 249⟩and judgement, whereby we must be enabled to discern between good and evil, right and wrong, which must be our light to guide us in all our ways, and our load-star to direct us in all our courses, which if it be wanting, we shall walk in darkness, and be apt to fall into many errors. Secondly, affiance in God, whereby we cast our selves upon his promises and providence in the use of lawful means; the which the Psalmist requireth of us; Commit thy way (saith he) unto the Lord, trust also in him, and 1he shall bring it to pass. The which we may more easily do, if we rightly consider our Saviours argument which he useth to the same purpose; for if the Lord take care to feed the fowls of the air, which take no care for themselves; and clotheth the lilies of the field, which neither toil nor spin, how much more will he provide for us all things necessary, who rest upon him in the use of all lawful courses, and take moderate care, and 2convenient pains to serve his providence? which affiance, if it be wanting, we shall be subject to innumerable discouragements, macerate our selves with carking care, and rush, upon all occasions, into the use of unlawful means, when lawful are wanting; thereby shifting for our selves, because we have no assurance that God will provide for us. Thirdly, we must be accompanied with a good conscience both towards God and towards men, and willing with the Apostle, to live honestly, we must with