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. 5 Other reasons inforcing the former duty.

The third reason is taken from the consideration of their naturall prone∣nesse vnto euill, euen from the brest, as experience teacheth, which by * 1.1 wholesome and timely instruction is to bee preuented; that being first seasoned with this precious liquor of true Religion, and sauing know∣ledge, they may retaine the taste and sauour of it to the end of their dayes. According to Salomons counsell; Traine vp (or as the word signifieth) Ca∣techize a child in the way that he should goe; and when he is old he will not depart from it. Vnto which, if we adde their readinesse to relapse into their natu∣rall corruptions; if by wholesome instructions they bee not daily confir∣med and strengthened in good courses; and how soone sinne will grow to a custome, and bring them to an habite of wickednesse, from which they can hardly afterwards be reclaimed; wee shall easily vnderstand the profit and necessity of this exercise. Fourthly, the desire that children and seruants should performe their duties to their parents and gouer∣nours, should make them carefull in the first place to teach them Religi∣on and the true feare of God. For if this be not the foundation, all other obedience is false and counterfeit, seeing they who yeeld it, are onely tyed vnto it in the carnall bonds of feare and rewards, and therefore it quite ceaseth when they cease. Neither will any with an honest heart and good conscience performe it, if it rise not out of loue and obedience towards God, but with respect of persons, selfe-loue, and such other sinister and by-respects. Fifthly, the care which euery Christian should haue to propa∣gate the Church of God, should mooue them to this duty, seeing God is thereby glorified, when as his Kingdome is inlarged and aduanced: for as the Wise man saith, In the multitude of a people is the honour of a King. Now * 1.2 this is most reasonable, that God, who created our children, should be ho∣noured by our consecrating of them vnto his seruice, and that wee should re-deliuer them vnto him, who first gaue them vnto vs, seeing they are his by a double right, both of creation and redemption, and also chalenged * 1.3 by him as his owne right and heritage. Sixthly, this may moue vs vnto this duty, if we consider that the time of youth is most seasonable for in∣struction; seeing then, like waxe, they are most apt to receiue all impressi∣ons

of good or euill, and also to retaine them when they are receiued. And therefore let it be the care of all gouernours, to stampe first Gods seale vpon their children, that thereby also they may bee marked for the children of God, before Satan hath preuented them, by sealing them for his slaues, and stamping vpon them the markes of perdition. Let them instruct them in the principles of true Religion, when as by their docible age they are most fit to learne, and most strong and able to retaine what they haue learned, in faithfull memories; lest neglecting this duty, Satan and the world teach them in their schoole of impiety, all prophanenesse and wickednesse; or if they incline at all to some Religion, doe by their instruments seduce them from the truth, sow in their minds the seeds of errours, schisme and heresies, and draw them away from God, by teach∣ing them to offer vnto him for his pure seruice, their owne, or other mens inuentions and traditions, will-worship, superstition and idolatry.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prou. 22. 6.—nunc adhibe puro pectore verba ••••cr. nunc te melioribus offer. Quo semel est imbutarecens seruabit odorem Testadiu. Horat. ad Lol∣lium. epist. lib. 1. ep. 2.
• * 1.2

  Prou. 14. 18.
• * 1.3

  1. Cor. 6. 20. Psal. 127. 3.