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. 4 That we must examine our selues, how we haue spent the day past.

So likewise we may examine our selues, how we haue performed those duties which belong to the particular parts of the day; As whether wee did awake with God, and offred vnto him our morning sacrifice of prayer and meditation; with what faithfulnesse wee haue walked in the duties of our callings, and how therein we haue ioyntly aymed at Gods glory, and the good of our neighbours, together with our owne profit; whether we haue done the duties of them in the obedience and loue of God, and

haue performed our earthly duties, with heauenly minds and affections. Whether we haue rightly vsed our recreations, refreshing our bodies and mindes with lawfull sports, in a good manner, to right ends, with obser∣uation of the rules and cautions required in them, especially in respect of their time, that we haue not beene ouer-lauish to the thrusting out, but rather fitting our selues for better exercises. How wee haue carried our selues in receiuing of our food, blessing it by prayer and thanksgiuing, and vsing it with temperance and sobriety, so as wee haue thereby beene better fitted for Gods seruice. Whether wee haue rightly vsed our soli∣tarinesse, spending our time neither idly nor vnprofitably: and how we haue behaued our selues in our society, both in our choyse of good company, and in performing with them all Christian duties of piety, Iustice, and ciuill honesty, for the mutuall good of one another. How we haue performed duties belonging to the family, and what care wee haue had, that not onely our selues, but also those who are vnder our charge should serue the Lord. How we haue carried our selues in our prosperity, by praising God for it, and by so vsing it, as that wee might be the better inabled to glorify him, and to performe all good duties to our neighbours; and how also we haue profited by our afflictions and chastizements, for the drawing of vs neerer vnto God in all holy and righteous duties, and the weaning of our hearts and affections from the loue of the world. The which examination wee should not thinke too tedious and laborious, if at least wee be in our health and strength, and not disabled thereunto by our weakenesse, infirmities, and vnaptnesse to take our rest, if at the first it be but a little disturbed; in which case if our imployments will affoord vnto vs any fit leysure and opportunity, it were good to allot some short time vnto this exercise before our going to bed, seeing if wee bee once accustomed vnto it, wee shall performe it, at least in those points which are most necessary for our owne particular, with great facility and in a little time. Yea in truth if wee would but consider how farre some of the Heathens themselues haue proceeded in this dutie, and what singular fruits and benefits arise from it, we might well be ashamed who professe Christianity, of our great neglect, and bee moued to spare some little time from our sleepe, when as wee may improue it to so much spirituall profit and aduantage. I vse (saith Seneca) this authority, * 1.1 and daily pleade my cause with my selfe. When the light is taken away, and my wife being acquainted with my custome, holdeth her peace, I examine vvith my selfe the vvhole day past, and reuievv all that I haue said or done. I hide nothing from mine ovvne scrutiny, I passe by no∣thing; for vvhy should I feare any thing, by reason of my errours, vvhen as I can say; See that thou doest it no more, and for this time I vvil pardon thee. And the same counsaile hee giueth to his friend Lucilius: Conuince * 1.2 thy selfe (saith hee) as much as thou canst, search into thy selfe. First, ex∣ecute the office of an accuser, then, of a Iudge, and lastly, of a mediatour to craue pardon; and sometime find out thy selfe. For hee willingly er∣reth, who knoweth not his errour, and too much loueth himselfe, who will haue others erre, that his errour may lye hid. By which exercise wee should receiue singular profit: For hereby wee should preserue our soules

and hearts in a thriuing estate, when wee doe like wise Merchants and shopkeepers, examine them and search ouer our consciences (as it were) our bookes of accounts, to see whether wee haue gayned or lost in our spirituall trading, by examining what wee haue receiued, and what we haue layd out: which if we would doe, we should not easily be cast behind hand, when as we preuent our errours, and vse meanes to repaire our losses in their first beginnings, nor (as many are) be bankrupted in our estates at vnawares for want of care to examine them. Wee should sleepe much more sweetely and securely, when as we haue so composed and set straight our reckonings, as that wee neede not to feare though the great Iudge should before morning call vs to an account. In which regard, the same Author commendeth this exercize. The minde (saith he) is daily to be called to an account. Sextius vsed at the end of the day, and when he reti∣red himselfe to rest; to examine his minde. What euill of thine hast thou cured? What vice hast thou withstood? in what art thou better, that an∣ger will cease or be more moderate; which knoweth that it shall not es∣cape the censure of an vnpartiall Iudge? What therefore is more excel∣lent * 1.3 then this custome of examining euery day? How sweete is that sleepe which followeth the reuiew of our selues? How quiet, sound and free; when the minde is commended or admonished, and as a watchman and secret censurer of it selfe, doth iudge of it owne manners? We should also preserue our hearts in their purity and soundnesse, if not from all infirmities and corruptions, yet at least from deepe putrifaction and the festering sores of sinne, when as we cure the wounds being yet greene, and cast out sinne by repeetance, as soone as it is first entred, not suffering it to lodge and sleep with vs, no not one night. We should hereby keepe our spi∣rituall state well settled, so as it would not easily be shaken, or at least o∣uerthrowne with the assaults of the enemies of our saluation, when as we constantly looke to our Christian Armour, and watching ouer our hearts, as our chiefe forts, repaire the breaches as soone as they are made. Final∣ly, wee shall preuent carnall security and hardnesse of heart, when wee examine our selues daily; and bee better fitted and prepared for the day of death and Iudgement, when as wee keepe our accounts euen, and haue our bookes of reckonings betweene God and our consciences made vp and in continuall readinesse. For he may soone cleare his accounts with his Master at the yeeres end, who like a faithfull and diligent Factor, doth make all reckonings straight at the end of euery day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ʋtor hac pote∣state, & quoti∣die apud me causam dico, &c. Senec▪ de ira, lib▪ 3. cap. 36
• * 1.2

  Quantum potes, teipsum coar∣gue, &c.
• * 1.3

  Quid pulchrius hac consuc••udi∣ne excutiendi to∣tam diem, &c? S••ne••. de ira. lib. 3. cap. 36.