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.

§. Sect. 1 That Gods Commande∣ments bind vnto obedi∣ence both poore and rich.

THe seuenth obiection is made by those who are afflict∣ed with pouerty, and cannot, without much labour and great paines, procure necessaries for the sustayning of their owne liues and those that depend vpon them. O, say they, we are so miserably poore, that vnlesse we spend our whole time in the workes of our callings, we cannot get such a small competency as is sufficient to hold life and soule together, nor food and clothing for our selues, wiues, children and families, which we must prouide for, vnlesse we would be worse then Infidels, being bound so to doe both by the Law of God and nature. And therefore hauing no spare time to spend in Religious duties, we hope that God will haue vs excused, and not impute the fault vnto vs, but to our pouerty, which necessarily constraineth vs to neglect the duties of his seruice, which if wee had time and leisure,

like other men, wee would willingly performe. To which I answer first, that the Law and commandements of God are giuen indefinite∣ly and generally vnto all men, the poore as well as the rich, and tie all sorts of men equally and indifferently vnto obedience, without any exemption or toleration granted to any state and condition. Otherwise, if such excuses might passe for current pay, none would want pretences to slip their necks out of the yoke of obedience, see∣ing prosperity and plenty, as well as aduersity and penurie, doe not want their seuerall imployments, and distractions enow to hinder vs from the duties of Gods seruice, if at least we will yeeld and giue way vnto them. Secondly I answer, that the state of pouertie being sanctified vnto vs, is much more fit for the duties of Gods seruice, then that which floweth with plentie and abundance, as being lesse subiect to many potent vices and corruptions which hinder vs in them, as pride and selfe-loue, wrath and insolencie, sloth and idlenesse, intem∣perance, insobriety and many others.