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 How wee must carry ourselues when we con∣ferre with those who ex∣cell vs in gifts.

ANd thus we haue spoken of graciousnesse of speech to be vsed in our conferences, and of the contrary corruptions which ought to bee shunned. The next duty required, is, that our speeches bee powdred with the salt of Christian wisedome and prudence, which not onely enableth vs to speake good things, but also to fit these speeches to the persons with whom we conferre, to occasions and opportunities, to the present purpose, vse and necessitie, so as they may be most seasonable, powerfull and effectuall for the furthe∣ring of our owne good, and theirs also that beare vs company. And this the Apostle vnderstandeth, when as hee requireth, that our speech should bee alwaies gracious, and seasoned with salt, that wee may know how * 1.1 to answere euery man, for their speciall vse and benefit. This is that fit and seasonable speech which the Wise man compareth to apples of gold, in * 1.2

pictures of siluer; and this is, to haue the tongue of the learned, when as wee know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary. And when as wee * 1.3 can fit our speeches to present occasions, and so apply them to euery sort and condition of men, as that they may be behoouefull and beneficiall to them all in their seuerall kindes. As for example, when wee conferre with such as excell vs in grace and piety, wisedome and knowledge, we must, reuerencing Gods graces and greater gifts in them, yeeld vnto them pri∣ority of speech, and attentiuely harken vnto those gracious words which proceede out of their mouthes; not spending of our small stocke which cannot inrich them, but laying vp their speeches as good treasures in our hearts, that wee may increase our spirituall store, which wee may afterwards lay out when wee come among those that haue more neede. And vnto this the wise Salomon aduiseth vs, Bow downe thine eare (saith he) * 1.4 and heare the words of the Wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keepe them within thee, they shall withall bee fitted in thy lips. And againe; Hearken vnto me now therefore, O ye children, and at∣tend * 1.5 vnto the words of my mouth. Heare: for I will speake excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall bee right things. And here the Apostle Iames his rule is especially to bee obserued; Let euery man be swift to heare, and slow * 1.6 to speake. For the words of the Wise are of great vse and profit, power * 1.7 and efficacie, like goads pricking men forward in the waies of Godlinesse, and like nayles fastening and confirming their hearts in all vertuous courses. In which regard if we interrupt them in their holy and wise speeches, by interposing our vnseasonable and lesse profitable talke, wee shall, by disturbing their discourse, wrong our selues and the rest of the companie; and bee more foolish then the foolish virgins, who did not * 1.8 desire to put out and extinguish the lights of the wise, but that they might share and communicate with them. And therefore when wee come into such companie, let vs thinke that wee are in a rich and plentifull market, wherein wee may store our selues with what we want. In which respect let vs wholy intend to inrich our hearts with all needefull graces, by tra∣ding with these rich Marchants who abound in them; and labour by communicating with them in these holy conferences, to increase our knowledge, strengthen our faith, confirme our affiance, nourish our hopes, mortifie our corruptions, and to bee more and more enabled to new obe∣dience and holinesse of life. On the other side, when we are in the compa∣ny of those which are weake and inferiour vnto vs in knowledge and o∣ther of Gods graces, wee must bee as ready to speake vnto their instructi∣on and edification, as to heare those which are superiour vnto vs. And as those who are of meane estate, may lawfully desire and receiue gifts from the rich, that they may impart them vnto those who are poorer then them∣selues, so must wee also doe in our spirituall trading one with another. Which wee neede not grudge to doe, seeing wee shall not lose by their gaine, but mutually thriue together, not much lesse increasing our owne knowledge and other graces, by teaching and communicating them, then they by learning and receiuing; these spirituall gifts herein resembling the Widdowes Cruze of Oyle which filled in emptying, and when much was taken out of it for the reliefe of the whole family, afforded no lesse

store the next meale, or like the milke in the mothers brest, which if it be sucked by the child, continueth and increaseth, but if it be not drawne, soone faileth and dryeth vp. Neither must wee in this case bee so proud and lofty in our own conceits, as to scorne or refuse conference with those who are not equall with vs in gifts, but as the Apostle exhorteth, wee must condescend vnto men of lowestate, & stoop vnto the vnderstanding of the mea∣nest, * 1.9 thinking it as necessary an office in Gods family, to put milk into the mouthes of little babes, as to set stronger meate before those that are able * 1.10 to sit at the table with vs and feede themselues. Vnto the performance of which dutie, Christian wisedome and discretion is very necessary, to giue vnto euery one a fit portion as they are able to beare; and not to glut and o∣uercloy weake stomacks with these spiritual dainties, till, like the Israelites Quailes, they come out of their nostrils. For if they surfet through saci∣ety, and bee crammed till it bee ready to come vp againe, they shall for the present offend God thereby, and loath this Spirituall food for the time to come. And therefore when wee meete with weakelings, let vs haue respect vnto them, and not so much consider what we could wil∣lingly giue, as what thier weake stomackes are able to disgest; intermix∣ing (as it were sawces to their meate) ciuill, morall and pleasant speeches tending to their profit or delight, that thereby, their appetite being quickned, they may feede vpon more solid and wholesome nourishment with lesse saciety.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Col. 4. 6.
• * 1.2

  Pro. 25 11.
• * 1.3

  Esa. 50. 4. Eccl. 12. 10.
• * 1.4

  Pro. 22. 17, 18.
• * 1.5

  Pro. 7. 24. &. 8. 6.
• * 1.6

  Iam. 1. 19.
• * 1.7

  Eccles. 12 11.
• * 1.8

  Matth. 25.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 12. 16.
• * 1.10

  Iohn 21. 15.