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 Of the duties of righteous∣nesse towards our neigh∣bours.

WE haue spoken of the duties of piety contained in the first Ta∣ble. And now wee are to intreat of the duties of righteous∣nesse, and sobriety required in the second: vnder righteous∣nesse, comprehending all duties which we owe to our neigh∣bours; and vnder sobriety, all those which belong to our owne persons. By righteousnesse, we vnderstand a vertue or habit which ordereth the whole man to the good of our neighbours; as the minde and vnderstanding, to thinke; the memory, to remember; the wil, to desire; the affections and passions, to couet and affect; the whole body, to act and performe all things which we know good and profitable both for their soules, bodies, name and state, for their temporal welfare and prosperity in this world, and their euerlasting happinesse in the world to come. The ge∣nerall rule of which righteousnes is, that we doe all that, and that only vnto o∣thers, which we would haue others do vnto vs; and consequently, seeing we de∣sire that our neighbours should with all the powers of their minde and body aduance, as much as in them lieth, our good in all things respecting our soules, bodies and states; Iustice and righteousnes requireth the same at our hands towards them; namely, that to the vttermost of our power we

be euer ready to doe all things which tend to their good, and to the pre∣seruation of their honour, person, life, purity, chastity, wealth and good name, not so much as intertaining a thought, or first motion in our minds or hearts, which in any of these or other respects may tend to their hurt and preiudice. Of which Iustice or righteousnesse there are two parts; the one distributiue, whereby we doe giue vnto euery one their due, and that which of right appertaineth vnto them; in which is to be obserued a geo∣metricall proportion, which hath respect in this distribution vnto euery man according to their place, person and such other relations and circum∣stances, and is in all things carried with due regard of equity and modera∣tion. The other is commutatiue, which is vsually exercized in commerce and mutuall dealings and trading one with another, as in changing, bor∣rowing, lending, buying, selling, letting, setting, and such like affaires of this life; The generall rule whereof is, that we keepe from no man his right, but pay euery man his debt and due. In which is to be obserued an Arithme∣ticall proportion, performing all these duties of Iustice in a strict equali∣ty, without any respect of place or person.

Notes

• Math. 5. 12.