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. 4 Of other meanes re∣specting the people.

Secondly, the people for their part, are to vse all good helpes and meanes for the remouing of this impediment. And first, their care must be to place themselues vnder sufficient, godly, and faithfull Mi∣nisters, who will carefully and conscionably breake vnto them the bread of life. And if in the dayes of their ignorance, they haue sea∣ted themselues vnder blinde guides, ignorant & insufficient Ministers, or if such be imposed vpon them against their wils in those places where their lands and liuings, trades and meanes doe lie, they must not onely sigh and mourne vnder this burthen, but also vse all lawfull meanes to be freed from it as soone as they can, either by procuring some better meanes by their care and charge, or by remouing their habitation (though with some worldly inconuenience) vnto some other place; Esteeming this one thing necessary, to enioy the meanes of their saluation, and with the wise Merchant purchasing this pearle and treasure at the highest rate, rather then be without it. For if wee would be hired with no worldly gaine, to liue in such places as affoord no food for the nourishment of our bodies; let vs be no lesse wise and carefull for our precious soules, and not hazard them to death and de∣struction, by continuing in those places for our worldly aduantage, where there is a continuall famine of the Word, but rather then want it, wee must wander from sea to sea, and from the North to the East, that we may seeke and finde it. But if the Ministers vnder whom God hath placed vs, haue sufficiencie of gifts, and yet through sloth and negli∣gence, worldlinesse or want of care and good conscience, neglect their dutie, we are not so easily to abandon them, before wee haue vsed all good meanes whereby they may be made more painefull and diligent. And first, wee must labour with God by our feruent prayers, that he will sanctifie their gifts, and giue vnto them, such faithfull and honest hearts, as that they may more conscionably set themselues to seeke Gods glory in the saluation of the people committed to their charge, and so imploy their talents which they haue receiued, as that they may be able to make a cheerefull account, when as they shall be called

to giue vp their reckoning. For if those which are most faithfull and diligent in discharge of their dutie, need these helpes, which made the Apostle so often to desire the prayers of the people; how much more doe they need them, who haue so many defects in the worke of their Ministery? Secondly, we must indeuour to draw them on to more di∣ligence by our good counsels and admonitions, in the Spirit of loue and meekenes, without all spleene and bitternes, or any disgrace offred to their persons. Thirdly, we must labour to win and encourage them, not onely by auoyding causelesse wranglings and contentions, but also by paying vnto them iustly and honestly their full due, which by the Lawes of God and men belong vnto them, and not take oc∣casion vpon the neglect of their dutie to neglect ours. Yea, rather with open hearts and hands, wee must carry our selues liberally to∣wards them according to our ability, that gayning their loue, they may become more carefull to seeke our spirituall good, communi∣cating vnto vs their ministeriall gifts, when they see vs willing to communicate vnto them our corporall blessings. Fourthly, we must not vilifie and contemne their Ministery, though there be therein some wants and imperfections, nor runne from them to others, who in our iudgement doe exceed them; but beare with their infirmities, and doe our best to reforme and amend them. Finally, when they preach vnto vs, we are to heare them with all diligence and reuerence, whereby we shall make them more carefull to deliuer things worth our hearing, and more ready to take greater paines, when they see them so much regarded. For as the sucking of the childe draw∣eth downe the mothers milke, and causeth it to come in greater plenty, whereas if the brest be not drawne, all the milke is soone dryed vp; so is it in this case betweene the Minister and the peo∣ple. By all which and the like meanes if wee preuaile nothing, wee are (if possibly wee can) to remooue our selues from vnder their charge, seeing it is not much materiall vnto vs, whether they cannot or will not teach vs the way of saluation, and no lesse necessitie lyeth vpon vs of hearing, then vpon them of preaching the Gospell; nor a lesse woe, if through our owne negligence wee heare it not.

Notes

• Matth. 13. 45.
• Amos 8. 11, 12.
• Matth. 10. 10.
• Gal. 6. 10. 1. Cor 9. 7. Heb. 13. 5. 1. Tim. 5. 17.