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. 2 That Gentle∣men haue no priuiledge of idlenesse, and how they should spend their time.

As for Gentlemen and those that haue attained vnto lands and riches, whereby they are able to maintaine themselues and their charge; though they are not, in respect that God hath thus aduanced them aboue others, to performe seruile workes, which were too much basenesse, nor to ouer∣toyle themselues in bodily labour, which were needlesse and vnprofitable for the Common wealth, by taking from the poore their worke, and with it their wages and meanes of maintenance; yet they are not exempted from such labours and imployments, as beseeme their place and state. Yea, in all reason, because God hath beene so gracious vnto them aboue others, that hee hath aduanced them to more honourable callings, wherein they may exercise themselues in imployments of a more excellent nature, and greater worth with greater ease; and hath richly rewarded them before∣hand with such extraordinary pay and bountifull wages, aboue the rest of their fellowes, whose labours are more base and toylesome, lesse honoura∣ble and important; therefore of all others, they should be least idle in this faire, easie, and honourable seruice, and exceede all others in diligence, as farre as they exceede them in these many and rich priuiledges. And heere∣of it is that Sodome was so much condemned and fearefully punished; be∣cause abounding in all wealth and plenty, they exceeded also in sloth, abusing the blessing of riches and prosperity, to pride, fulnesse of bread, and * 1.1 aboundance of idlenesse. Besides then those religious duties, of praying, hearing the Word, reading, meditating, and such like, in which it be∣commeth Gentlemen and rich men to bee most diligent, as hauing more leasure and better opportunity to performe these exercises, then the poorer sort: there are also many ciuill duties, in which their time and paines may be profitably imployed; As first and chiefly, the duties of Magistracy, if they be furnished with fit gifts for it by God, and called thereunto by superiour authority; wherein they are chiefly to aime at Gods glory, and

the good of the Church and Common wealth, by preseruing Iustice, truth, and peace, the beating downe of all vice and sinne, and the aduan∣cing of vertue and godlinesse in them. And not the pleasing of their owne humours, the pleasuring of their friends, and the filling of their purses with gifts and bribes. But if they be not fit for these imployments, or not called thereunto, then may they profitably be exercised in gouerning their owne families, appointing their seruants to their worke, ouerseeing their labours, and taking account of what they haue done; in husbanding and managing their estates, that they may, as much as in them lyeth, preserue it intire, and leaue it to their posterity. And what time they can spare from these imployments, they may profitably spend; either, if they be of a mar∣tiall disposition, in feates of Armes, riding of great Horses, and such like exercises, whereby they may bee fitted for the seruice and defence of their Countrey. Or if they be naturally inclined to contemplation, and a quiet and peaceable life, they may apply themselues to the study of Law, Physicke, or Diuinity, that they may not onely bee able to direct them∣selues in all things that concerne their estates, bodies, and soules, but also may be helpeful vnto their neighbours about them, by directing them in their courses, and resoluing them in all their doubts, when as they resort vnto them to aske their counsell. Vnto which studies, if our Gentility were inclined, I see no reason why they might not bee (like that worthy and renowned P. Mornay du Plessis of France, famous in all Countreys for his valour and learning) the greatest Schollers in the Common wealth, next vnto them that reside in the Vniuersities; seeing they haue most leasure and opportunity to follow their studies; and best purses to furnish their Libraries. Or if they haue not beene brought vp to learning, they may imploy their time profitably in according differences, and end∣ing controuersies betweene their neighbours; in vsing all good meanes both by word and example, to discountenance sinne, and aduance vertue; in doing the workes of mercy, as ouerseeing the poore, and taking order for their prouision, relieuing the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sicke; to which duties God hath inabled them aboue others, by making them stewards in his family, and committing a greater portion to their ordring and disposing. And if Gentlemen would thus spend their time, they should be truely noble in the eyes of God and men, and reape more true & lasting honour in their Country, by this their Christian conuersati∣on, then the antiquity of their house, their ancient and ennobled pedigree, their coates of Armes & Ensignes of Gentilitie, their gilded Coaches and gay apparell can yeeld vnto them. Yea, which is aboue all, they should by these courses haue the inward peace of a good conscience, and inioying * 1.2 their earthly priuiledges as pledges of Gods loue, and earnest-pennies of their saluation, their hearts would not bee set vpon these, but vpon the mayne bargaine of heauenly happinesse assured by them; and would bee content with all cheerefulnes to leaue them, & to lay downe their talents at Gods feet, when as he shall call them to enter into the ioy of their Lord.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ezech. 16. 49.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 25. 20, 21.