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.

CAP. XII.

Of the duties of the daily exercise, in euery seuerall part of the day. And first of waking with God, by Prayer and Meditation.

§. Sect. 1 Of lifting vp our hearts vnto God, assoone as we awake, that we may offer vnto him our first seruice.

HAuing spoken of those Christian duties which are necessarily to bee performed thorowout the whole day; we are now come to shew how the day is to bee spent in the particular parts of it, and what speciall duties are to be performed in them seuerally, as God shall giue vs conueniency and oppor∣tunity. The which we will diuide, as the naturall day consisting of foure and twenty houres is diuided, into such duties as respect either the day or night. The duties of the day, are either those which ordinarily and con∣stantly are to be done in certaine parts of the day, without omission or al∣teration, vnlesse vpon some vrgent cause; or those which respect circum∣stances, persons, states, occurrents, not limited vnto any certaine time of the day, but wayting vpon the most opportune and fit occasions. Of the former sort are duties meerely religious, and belonging to all Christians generally and indifferently; or ciuill duties, which notwithstanding ought to be performed of all the faithfull, after an holy and religious manner. The first religious duty wherewith wee are to beginne the day, is, that assoone as we awake out of our sleepe, wee offer vnto God a morning sa∣crifice, and (as it were) the first fruits of all our thoughts, affections, and indeuours, sequestring them from the world and earthly vanities, that they may bee fixed vpon God, and things heauenly and spirituall. And euen whilst our bodies lye still on our beds, and before we haue vnbarred the dore of our lips, to giue passage vnto our words, in this still silence, we must lift vp our hearts vnto God to commune with him, and (as it were) to salute him, by consecrating vnto him their first and best seruice. Of which duty we haue Dauid an example for our imitation, who no sooner awaked, but he was presently with God, as he professeth, and sought him * 1.1 earely, thirsting in his soule after him, like a dry and thirsty land. Yea, so diligent and feruent was he in doing this duty, that he preuented the daw∣ning * 1.2 of the morning; and before he was thorowly awakened, and had all his senses set fully at liberty from the bands of sleepe, his heart is rowzed vp, and fixed vpon God to giue him praise; and then that being awaked, * 1.3

doth also awaken his tongue, and instruments of musicke, and his whole man to ioyne together in glorifying God. So the Church in Esayas song saith, that shee longed after God in the night, and resolueth, that with her Spi∣rit * 1.4 within her, she would seeke him earely. Which that wee may likewise practise, let vs consider that the Lord our God is our chiefe treasure, and our soules sole delight, and therefore let our hearts bee first there where our treasure is, and seeing he is the onely true cause of all comfort and re∣ioycing; let vs solace our selues in our fruition of him by this sweete com∣munion. For if worldly men who haue fixed their hearts on earthly vani∣ties, doe meditate on them in the night without wearinesse, and no sooner awake in the morning, but presently they consecrate vnto them their first thoughts and desires, as the couetous man, to his riches; the ambitious man, his honours; the voluptuous man, his pleasures; let vs be ashamed if wee cannot be as feruent and diligent in dedicating vnto God the first seruice of our hearts, who is infinitely more worthy of our loue. Againe, there is no businesse in the world of like waight and worth vnto this, as bringing singular comfort to our hearts, & saluation to our soules, & ther∣fore let vs giue it the priority, and precedencie, and not suffer euery ped∣ling and pelting trifle take vp our hearts first, and make it to watch at the doores, and sometimes to depart away for want of admittance. And see∣ing God is the most worthy person, and offereth to conferre with vs about the waightiest occasions, let vs not after an vnmannerly and foolish fashi∣on, suffer him to attend our leisure, till we haue done conferring with the contemptible and worthlesse world, about earthly occasions, which are slight and of no value. Finally, the morning is the best and fittest time for the vndertaking and atchieuing of any imployment, because of the freenesse of our minds from all incumbrances, the viuacity and cheereful∣nesse of the spirits, and the vigour and abilities of all our parts, by reason of our late rest, and therefore let vs consecrate the very prime of it vnto our gracious God, who best deserueth our best seruice.

§. Sect. 2 Of lifting vp our hearts by some short prayer.

Now this first seruice which we are to offer vnto God, consisteth in prayer and meditation, which are the two wings of our soules, whereby they soare aloft into heauen, and there inioy the presence of God. The first duty is prayer, whereby lifting vp our hearts vnto God with more fer∣uency then prolixity, wee doe in some short manner, render vnto God praise and thanksgiuing for our quiet rest, whereby our bodies are re∣freshed; for preseruing vs from all dangers of the night, both in our soules and bodies, especially from sinfull dreames, and the tentations and as∣saults of Satan, who would easily haue ouercome and vtterly destroyed vs, had not God watched ouer and defended vs by his power and proui∣dence. For letting vs againe inioy the light, and granting vs another day wherein we may doe him further seruice, and so make our owne calling and election sure. Vnto which, with like breuity wee are to adioyne the confession of our sinnes, especially of that night, if any such come to our knowledge and remembrance, and by reason of them, our great vnwor∣thinesse of these fauours and testimonies of Gods loue, desiring the par∣don of them, and the sanctification of the Spirit, whereby wee may be more and more freed from them. And finally, wee are to cast our selues

into the armes of his prouidence, commending our soules and bodies vn∣to his protection and direction, and desiring to bee so assisted with his grace and holy Spirit, that all the thoughts of our hearts, and words of our mouthes, and the workes of our hands, may the day following, and for euer be acceptable in his sight. And especially that he will so illighten, rule, and assist vs in our following meditations, that they may tend to his glory, and to our owne comfort and saluation.

§. Sect. 2 Of the subiect matter of our Morning me∣ditations.

And so we must from prayer proceed to meditation, the which may bee longer or shorter, according to our opportunity, occasions, and leasure; and the measure and feruency of our zeale and deuotion. In which, our maine scope must bee to glorifie God, to increase our communion with him, by these familiar conferences of our soules; to strengthen our faith, in∣large our hearts with loue and thankfulnesse, and to replenish them with ioy and comfort in the sweet fruition of God, and tokens of his loue. To which purpose we must fit the subiect matter of our meditations; and be∣cause present occasions are ready at hand, and not onely more familiar and easie to be remembred, but fit to affect our hearts, which are more appre∣hensiue of present then past benefits, we are to make vse of such by medi∣tating on them. But yet principally we must begin with the fountaine, and raise our thoughts from the ground and foundation of all blessings, which is Gods infinite loue, testified chiefly, in giuing vnto vs that singular pledge thereof, his onely Sonne to die for vs, that we might be freed from euerlasting death, and attaine vnto eternall life and happinesse. For whose sake hee hath freely forgiuen vs all our sinnes, and bestowed vpon vs, to∣gether with him, all things needfull for our soules and bodies, and what∣soeuer is necessary to life and godlinesse. From which, we may descend to the particular testimonies of Gods loue lately receiued, as that hee hath by his power and prouidence watching ouer vs the night past, preserued vs from all dangers, and out of the hands of our spirituall enemies, who otherwise wanted neither will nor power to haue brought vs to destructi∣on. That he hath kept vs from all terrours of the night, with which others haue beene affrighted, and hath graciously preserued our liues from sud∣den death, with which others lying downe in health and security, haue been attached before the morning; adding vnto our dayes, and giuing vs still time of repentance, with ability to serue him, and to bee instruments of his glory. After which meditation on Gods mercies, we may take such oc∣casions as are presently offred, to furnish our mindes with holy thoughts, and to worke in our hearts good affections and desires. As our awakning out of sleepe may put vs in mind, of our awakening out of the sleepe, or ra∣ther * 1.5 death, of sinne, to the life of righteousnesse, by the quickning power of Gods holy Spirit in our regeneration, and of the daily renewing of this our * 1.6 quickning and awakning by continuall sanctification. The light of the Sun may put vs in minde of the Sunne of righteousnesse; who first in his King∣dome of grace hath shined vnto vs by the light of the Gospel, who before * 1.7 sate in darkenesse and the shaddow of death, guiding our feet into the way of peace. With which light we are to desire our mindes may be more and more in∣lightened, and freed powerfully and effectually from their naturall igno∣rance, without which spirituall illightning, the outward light of the Sun

and sight of our eyes wil bring vnto our hearts no sound comfort. Second∣ly, of the light of glory, which shall infinitely exceed the light of the Sun, and much more then it exceedeth a Gloworme or the smallest spark of fire. For if euery one of the innumerable numbers of the glorified Saints, shalbe more glorious then the Sun in his chiefest brightnesse, then how infinite is the glory of the (now) vnaccessable light, which we shal then see face to face, who giueth both vnto the Sun and them their beauty and brightnesse? our rising out of our beds may put vs in mind of the rising of our bodies out of our graues, when as at the last day, by the sound of the Trumpet we shalbe summoned before Gods Tribunall seate, to giue an account of all that we haue done in the flesh; the which should make vs to resolue of preparing our selues daily to meet our Iudge, because the time is vncertaine when he will call vs to Iudgement. When we see our nakednes, let it put vs in mind of our sin, which caused vs first to see and be ashamed of it, whereas when we were couered with innocency, and had the Image of God shining in vs, we no more needed garments to couer vs, then the Sun a cloud. And let this make vs to long after the garment of Christs righteousnesse, with which, when we are perfectly clothed, we shal be without sin or shame, & appeare glorious in the sight of God; yea, let vs earnestly desire to put on Christ, not * 1.8 only for iustification, but also for sanctification, wherby that clothing of in∣nocency before the fall, will be presently in part renewed & repaired, till at last it come to more perfection then it had in our first creation. When we put on our apparell, let vs remember that they were first giuen vs to couer our shame, not as ornaments to be proud of, but as couerings to hide our nakednesse, & to preserue vs from the iniuries of the weather. And as we are carefull, not only to prouide fit clothes for those ends, but also to put them on, and apply them to our vse, so let vs be no lesse carefull to prouide fit clo∣thing for our soules, whereby their spirituall deformities may be couered, and they beautified in the eyes of God with his Saints & Angels, as the per∣fect garment of Christs righteousnesse, already thorowly finished by his death and resurrection, and those rich ornaments of his spirituall graces, which are now inchoate and begun, and shall be perfected in the life to come; and not stay here, but also as carefully apply and put them on by the hand of faith, as we doe our apparell with the hands of our bodies, which o∣therwise will doe vs no more good, then the best garments lying in our * 1.9 chests, and neuer applied to the vse of our bodies. And finally, seeing wee content not our selues to clothe some parts of our bodies that need clo∣thing, and leaue others naked, but to haue them all couered with fit orna∣ments for euery seuerall part; so let vs not rest contented to haue our soules in part clothed, and in part left naked, in their naturall deformities; but to haue all ornaments of sanctifying and sauing graces put on, taking daily most care to supply that, wherein we finde our selues most defectiue.

§. Sect. 4 That in our first meditati∣ons, we must renew our faith and re∣pentance.

Now as we are thus to take these, & all other such like good occasions of holy and heauenly meditations; so our chiefe care must bee, that wee doe daily renew our repentance and faith in Christ, vsing to this purpose all those helpes and meanes which I haue formerly prescribed. For the better performance of which dutie, we must set a sure watch before the doores of our hearts, to keepe out all wandring thoughts and earthly de∣sires

from entring into them, which would distract vs in this holy exercise; or if any through heedelesnesse haue crept in at vnawares, our second care must bee to strangle and choake them as soone as they are entred, and to checke our selues, in that we haue beene so negligent in keeping our watch. But aboue all things we must take heede, that wee doe not countenance and defend our infirmities and slips in this kinde, by obiecting against this exercise, that it will take vp too much time, and our leisure will not serue in respect of the workes of our callings which we must not neglect, and our many and waighty occasions and affaires, which are sufficient to take vp our whole time, and exercise all our thoughts for the right orde∣ring and managing of them. For there is no man so much imployed in worldly businesse, who doth not waste more time idlely, and vpon vnneces∣sary things which bring no profit to his soule, body nor state, then is re∣quired for these spirituall meditations, which being short in themselues, may yet be more contracted into such a narrow roome, that lesse then one quarter of an howre may be sufficient for them. The which wee may rea∣sonably thinke will be no hinderance to our profitable proceedings in our worldly affaires and duties of our callings, seeing a good beginning is a great furtherance to a good ending, and an ill conclusion in matters that concerne our earthly estate, cannot arise from such holy and heauenly premises. Yea rather we may with faith and a good conscience assure our selues, that seeing the Lord only buildeth the house, and without his bles∣sing * 1.10 all our labours and endeuours are spent in vaine, he will so order all our affaires with his prouidence, that the haruest which we are to reape of our labours in the whole day following, will not be the worse, because we haue offered vnto him the first fruits of the morning; nor that he will abate vs of our wages, because we haue beene carefull to doe him better seruice. Or though hereby we should be somewhat scanted in earthly things, yet is there no reason why we should be discouraged frō performing these reli∣gious duties, seeing they are as much more excellent, waighty, and necessa∣ry, then all earthly affaires, and the profits and pleasures that do accompa∣nie thē, as the soule excelleth the body; spiritual graces, worldly trifles; and heauenly happinesse the momentany and mutable vanities of the earth.

§. Sect. 5 The manifold benefits which will arise from these religious morning exer∣cises.

Neither can our time be more profitably imployed then in these holy exercises, as will appeare, if we consider the manifold fruits and benefits which we shall reape by them. For we shall hereby preserue and increase the sincerity and vprightnesse of our hearts, and strengthen our resolutions in going on cheerfully and faithfully in the duties of Gods seruice the day following, with greater care and vigilancy then we did the day before; we shall keepe our hearts wel seasoned with the loue & feare of God through∣out the whole day when as we fill them with this precious liquor betimes in the morning, before they be taken vp and tainted with carnall lusts and worldly vanities. We shall moue the Lord to sow in our hearts the seedes of his graces, when as like good grounds they are thus wel prepared to re∣ceiue them; and when they spring vp in vs, they will grow the better and faster, being well watered in the morning, and indure without withering when the sun of persecution ariseth, and euen scorcheth with the heate of afflictions. We shall preserue our soules from the poysonous contagi∣on

of the sinfull times, when as before we goe abroad into the infectious ayre, we haue betimes in the morning taken our spirituall cordials and antidotes. We shall keepe the fort of our hearts from any danger of sack∣ing and surprizing by Satans tentations, when as betimes in the morning we haue strengthened all our fortifications, and stopped the chiefe pas∣sages which leade vnto them. Our liues will be the better ordred through∣out the whole day, when we haue thus well begun to order them in the morning, and wee shall performe all duties of holinesse and righteousnes with much more ease and facility, pleasure and delight, when as by these meditations wee haue acquainted our hearts with them, and haue made them familiar with vs by this sweete society. We shall not neede to feare the encounters of our spirituall enemies, when as we haue betimes betaken vs to our weapons, and put on our Christian armour, before wee haue put on our clothes. Our hearts wil be filled with ioy and comfort in God, when as we do thus often reassure our selues of his loue; and we shall be safe vn∣der his gracious protection, seeing if we thus wake with God; and seeke him * 1.11 betimes, he will awake for vs, and make the habitation of our righteousnesse prospe∣rous, as Bildad speaketh. Finally, if our hearts be thus timely taken vp with these holy meditations, they will keepe the roome for such as are of their own nature & quality, not suffring those which are sinfull, carnall, & meerly worldly to enter; and so shall we be fitted for the next following duty of prayer, when our hearts are prepared, and lifted vp from the earth in these religious thoughts, and are not distracted with worldly incumbrances. Whereas contrariwise, if in the morning we keep no watch ouer our selues, but suffer our hearts to take their liberty, and to giue entertainment vnto wicked and worldly thoughts, and the carnall and sensuall lusts of our cor∣rupt flesh; they will so wholly seaze vpon them & hold their possession, that we shall hardly admit, or at least retaine any good meditations the whole day following; & if we set our selues to prayer or other religious duties, we shall be so distracted with worldly cogitations and fleshly lusts, that they will become cold and formall, and quite without any vigour and efficacie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 139. 18. Psal. 63. 1.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 119. 147.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 57. 7, 8.
• * 1.4

  Esa. 26. 9.
• * 1.5

  Eph. 2. 1.
• * 1.6

  Eph. 5. 14.
• * 1.7

  Luk. 1. 79.
• * 1.8

  Rom. 13. 14.
• * 1.9

  Phil. 3. 9. Rom. 13. 14. Eph. 4. 23, 24.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 127. 1, 2.
• * 1.11

  Iob 8. 5, 6.