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. 8 That the pro∣fit of these du∣ties will farre exceede the paines.

Now if any obiect, that though these duties are good and commenda∣ble, yet they are hard and difficult, and that it bringeth great wearinesse thus to serue God both day and night in these spirituall and religious ex∣ercises: vnto such I dare promise, that their profit will farre exceed their paines; and their spirituall ioy and comfort, will abundantly recompence that carnall distaste which our corrupt flesh causeth in them. For if our minds and hearts be thus continually night and day taken vp for Gods vse in these religious exercises, it will bee a notable meanes to keepe out Satan and his suggestions from entring and taking possession; as they easi∣ly will, if they be swept cleane and empty of good meditations and de∣sires. For they who are idle and doe nothing, are at the next step to doing ill; and if we be not imployed in the seruice of God, the diuell will take vs vp like masterlesse men, and hire vs with the wages of sinfull pleasures,

to spend our time and strength in the workes of darkenesse. Secondly, if they bee thus replenished with good meditations at our lying downe, it will bee a notable meanes to preserue vs from vaine, idle and sinfull dreames, and contrariwise dispose vs euen in our sleepe to good thoughts and cogitations. Thirdly, if we thus keepe them well-ordered at our go∣ing to bed, and throughout the whole night, wee shall with much more ease and pleasure keepe them in this state the day following, and haue them apt and ready vnto the well-performance of all good duties. For as those Ouens are easily heat in the morning, in which we baked in the night; and the fire soone kindled when wee rise, which wee well ra∣ked vp and couered when wee went to bed; so if wee bee thus exercised ouer night, we shall finde the spirituall warmth thereof, making vs able and actiue for all good duties in the morning, and by adding some new fuell vnto this holy fire, we shall with much facility and comfort cause it to burne and blaze out in all Christian and religious duties. Finally, if with the fiue wise virgins we thus keepe our lamps trimmed night & day, being alwaies in readines, we shall not need to feare the suddaine approching of the Bridegroome; but at the least noyse of his comming wee shall rise to meet him, and so entring with him into the marriage Chamber of heauen∣ly happinesse, we shal there eternally solace our selues in the fruition of his loue, and those rauishing ioyes which he hath prepared for vs.

Notes

• Mal. 1. 13.