A20762:942
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 the former reasons bind all men to painfulness in their callings.
§. Sect. 1 That the former reasons bind all men to painfulnesse in their callings.
And these are the reasons which may move us to be painful in our callings, and preserve us from idleness. But a question may be made whom it concerneth to be thus daily employed, seeing common practice of the world doth plainly proclaim, that they think, all are not tied by these reasons to spend their time in pains and labour; and that many may live without any calling at all, or having one, may only labour so much as they need, or will stand with their credit and place. As though there were no other bonds to tie them unto any pains, but necessity among the poorer sort, increase of riches among those who desire to increase their wealth to an higher pitch, and honour and authority among those who are in place of government. As for the rich that are contented with their wealth, and Gentlemen who live upon their lands and great revenues, and desire not to have the honour with the burden of government, they need not to employ themselves in any calling, but may spend their time in all ease and pleasure, in hunting, and hawking, in gaming, and revelling; with which conceit they are so possessed, that they hold it some disparagement to be otherwise exercised, or to take any pains in any lawful calling. For answering whereof, we are to know, that these reasons concern all men of all estates and conditions, rich and poor, noble and base, so long as they are able to take pains, and are not made unfit by age and impotency, sickness and such other infirmities. For the Law imposed upon Adam, bindeth also all his posterity, that in the sweat of their face they should eat their bread. By which borrowed speech, from the practice of those who labour with their hands, is meant that all, of all estates and conditions, should serve God with pains and diligence, according to the nature of that calling which they have taken upon them; as Magistrates in their government, Ministers in their studies, preaching, and other Ministerial functions; the Artificer and Craftsman