A20762:987
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. 4 That in our recreations we must avoid giving of offence.
§. Sect. 4 That in our recreations we must auoid giuing of offence.
The fourth caution is, that in all our recreations we do not give any scandal and offence, neither using such before our weak brethren, 1though lawful in themselves, whereat they stick or stumble with some scruple of conscience, nor yet carrying our selves offensively in such as they approve, either by spending unseasonably our time in them, or too much of that which is in moderation allowable, or with any lightness and vanity, or by giving our selves over to some unruly passion. Yea, as much as in us lieth, we must abstain not only from these faults themselves, but also from the least show and appearance of them; and not ⟨p. 272⟩only take care to do those things which are true and just, pure and lovely, 2but also which are of good report; not only taking care to be virtuous, but also to be so esteemed, and have the reputation and praise (all pride and vainglory being avoided) which (as the shadow the body) doth attend and wait upon it. And seeing recreations are things indifferent, we are rather utterly to forbear them, then to give unto our brethren any just cause of offence, because the greatest danger that can hereof come unto us, is but the hazard of our health, whereas by offending them, we may endanger the loss of their precious souls, for which Christ hath shed his blood. In which regard, if the Apostle was so charitable, that he would