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 the for∣mer reasons bind all men to painfulnesse in their callings.

ANd these are the reasons which may moue vs to be paineful in our callings, and preserue vs from idlenesse. But a question may bee made whom it concerneth to be thus daily imploy∣ed, seeing common practice of the world doth plainely pro∣claime, that they thinke, all are not tied by these reasons to spend their time in paines and labour; and that many may liue without a∣ny calling at all, or hauing one, may onely labour so much as they neede, or will stand with their credit and place. As though there were no other bonds to tye them vnto any paines, but necessity among the poorer sort, increase of riches among those who desire to increase their wealth to an higher pitch, and honour and authority among those who are in place of gouernement. As for the rich that are contented with their wealth, and Gentlemen who liue vpon their lands and great reuenues, and de∣sire not to haue the honour with the burthen of gouernement, they neede not to imploy themselues in any calling, but may spend their time in all ease and pleasure, in hunting, and hawking, in gaming, and reuel∣ling; with which conceite they are so possessed, that they hold it some disparagement to bee otherwise exercised, or to take any paines in any lawfull calling. For answering whereof, wee are to know, that these reasons concerne all men of all estates and conditions, rich and poore, noble and base, so long as they are able to take paines, and are not made vnfit by age and impotency, sicknesse and such other infirmities. For the Law imposed vpon Adam, bindeth also all his posterity, that in the sweate of their face they should eate their bread. By which borrowed speech, from the practice of those who labour with their hands, is meant that all, of all estates and conditions, should serue God with paines and diligence, according to the nature of that calling which they haue taken vpon them; as Magistrates in their gouernment, Ministers in their studies, preaching, and other Ministeriall functions; the Artificer and Craftsman

in his Science and Trade; the Husbandman in the workes of Husbandry. And it is indefinitely said in Iob, that man is borne vnto labour, as the sparkes * 1.1 flie vpward, so that he who would haue pasport to leade an idle life, must forgoe the priuiledge of being a man. Yea, not onely men, but women also are tyed to this taske of daily labour in their callings; neither may they eate the bread of idlenesse, as the Wiseman speaketh, but must take * 1.2 paines, according to their place and state, either in working with their hands, if they be poore, or by gouerning their families, and with the good huswife in the Prouerbes, looking well to the wayes of their houshold, or some other honest imployment which may keepe them from idlenesse, fit them for a charge, and make them more helpefull vnto others, and in some kinde or other, profitable members of the Common wealth. For if they consume their time in sloth and idlenesse, and according to the common custome of many in the world, spend all the rest of the morning which they can spare from sleepe, in curious adorning of their bodies, in frizling and cur∣ling the haire, painting the face, with such like vanities; and the after∣noone in vaine talking and courting, idle visitations, carding, playing, and sporting themselues in such carnall delights; they (for ought I know to the contrary) shall as well as men bring vpon themselues all the former euils of sinne and punishment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iob 5. 7.
• * 1.2

  1. Tim. 5. 14. Pro. 31. 27.