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. 7 That none are exempted by God from the duties of his seruice, vn∣der pretence of any other businesse.

Finally, let those who excuse their neglect of Gods seruice, by pretending their multitude of important businesses, which allow them no leisure for Religious exercises, know and remember, that the Lord exempteth none, no, not Kings themselues, from perfor∣ming of them, whose imployments notwithstanding exceede those of other men, both in weight and number, as hauing not onely the charge and burthen of their owne families, but of the whole Church and Common-wealth lying vpon them. For euen they are comman∣ded to haue with them continually the Booke of Gods Law, and to reade and me∣ditate * 1.1 therein all the dayes of their life, that they may learne to feare the Lord their God, and to keepe all the Words of his Law and his Statutes, to doe them. Let them also consider the care of Gods seruants in all ages, to yeeld vnto him this seruice and obedience. So that though their businesses and imployments haue beene neuer so manifold and weighty, yet

when they haue beene most encumbred, they euer found time suffici∣ent for the Religious duties of Gods seruice. Who euer had more, and more weighty imployments then Iosua, both in warre and peace; as hauing not onely a Kingdome to conquer, and many mighty and warlike enemies to subdue, which was afterward to be deuided amongst all the tribes, but also a stiffenecked people vnder his gouern∣ment, vnto whom, vpon all weighty occasions he was to administer iustice? And yet, as the Lord charged him, that the Booke of the Law should * 1.2 not depart out of his mouth, but that he should meditate therein day and night, that he might obserue to doe according to all that was written therein; so did he answerably yeeld his obedience, professing before all the people, that though they should all neglect these duties, yet he and his house∣hold * 1.3 would serue the Lord. Who could spare lesse time then holy Da∣uid from his important imployments, both in warre and peace? And yet all this could not hinder him from Religious exercises, but vpon all occasions he meditated in Gods Law both day and night; * 1.4 and thrice in the day at least, did in a set and solemne manner call vpon him; besides his often prayers and prayses vpon speciall oc∣casions. Who could haue lesse leysure then Daniel, that hauing the care of managing the chiefe affaires of a mighty Monarchy imposed vpon him, had all his actions so curiously scanned by his many, mightie, and malicious enemies, that small negligences would haue beene aggrauated against him as great faults? And yet not∣withstanding all these businesses of State, and those that concerned his owne particular, he could thrice a day sequester himselfe from * 1.5 them all, and in a solemne manner deuote himselfe to the Religious duties of Gods seruice. Yea, was there euer any man so seriously imployed, in such important affaires of his publique calling, as our Sauiour Christ, so as he could scarce spare any time from his prea∣ching, working miracles, and such diuine exercises, for the releeuing of his body, and satisfying of his hunger? And yet rather then hee * 1.6 would want time for his priuate prayers and deuotions, hee bor∣rowed some from his sleepe. And therefore, vnlesse we would not be numbred among the faithfull, let vs follow their examples; if wee would be esteemed Christs Disciples, let vs imitate his practice, and not thinke our selues excused in the neglect of Religious duties by our worldly businesses, which are incomparably lesse in number, and lighter in value and true worth, then those wherein many of Gods Saints and seruants haue bene dayly imployed, from which not∣withstanding they borrowed time sufficient for spirituall exercises. The which admonition, as it generally concerneth all Christians of euery calling; so especially Students and Professours of Diuinity, who are more apt then others, to excuse their neglect of Christian practice in pious & Religious duties, because they are so wholy taken vp with their studies and speculations, that they haue little or no ley∣sure for the other: The which they thinke not only iustifiable, but also commendable, because their mindes are continually exercised in the theory and speculation of religious obiects, and in diuine studies and

contemplations. But such are to know, that nothing more hindreth the Religious practice of Christianity, then when we spend our time, and suffer our selues to be wholy taken vp with ieiune speculations, & such studies as are onely mentall: Because being exercises and labours of the minde and soule, they toyle and tyre it, and so spend all the vertue and vigour of the powers and faculties belonging vnto it, and waste and exhaust the spirits, that no strength remayneth for practique du∣ties, nor any ability to performe any exercises of Religion and deuo∣tion. Yea, aboue all other imployments, they most alienate the minde, and withdraw the heart and affection wholy from them. For whereas those who are exercised about bodily labours, as riding, trauayling, working in their arts and trades, plowing and such like, may often haue leysure, without any great distraction, to lift vp their hearts vnto God in short Prayers & Meditations, in praysing God, and singing Psalmes, not for custome, but for conscience sake, not to make themselues mer∣rie and passe the time with lesse tediousnesse, but out of a pure desire to glorifie God; or to entertaine one another with Religious discour∣ses and holy conferences; those whose mindes are taken vp with lit∣terall studies and speculations, can no more intend the spirituall exer∣cises of Christian deuotion, then they can at the same time suppe and blow, because the powers of the minde being finite, cannot intend many things at once. The which (as I thinke) is a chiefe cause, why the acutest Schoolemen and greatest & most learned Doctors in high mysteries and curious speculations, are oftentimes most cold in de∣uotion, and most negligent in the practice of holy duties, although they are able to teach them vnto others.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Deut. 1. 17, 18, 19.
• * 1.2

  Ios. 1. 8.
• * 1.3

  Ios. 24. 15.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 88. 1. & 119. 55, 62. Psal. 55. 17. & 119. 64.
• * 1.5

  Dan. 6. 10.
• * 1.6

  Luk. 6. 12. & 21, 37.