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. 3 Of other pri∣uate duties to be done on the Lords Day.

After the finishing of which family exercises, wee are to spend the rest of the time before Supper in other Christian duties, as in visiting and comforting those that bee sicke or in any other great affliction, and mi∣nistring vnto their necessities if they stand in need of our helpe. In ma∣king peace and friendship betweene those who are at variance, by com∣pounding the differences which are betweene them. In meditating vpon the great Booke of the creatures, and obseruing in them the infinite and admirable wisedome and goodnesse, power and prouidence of our gra∣cious God, that wee may take occasion to render vnto him the glory and praise of his owne workes, when wee see their wonderfull variety and comely order, their qualities and formes, their beauty and excel∣lencie, their vse and profit for the seruice of man. Obseruing likewise in them, such good properties as are worthy our imitation, and bee asha∣med that they should exceed vs in them, who haue the vse of reason, and so many religious helpes and meanes; and their ill properties, that

wee may auoyd them; taking occasion thereby to be humbled in the re∣membrance of our fall from our created purity and integrity, as being the principall cause of all their defects and imperfections. So also vvee may in this respect make good vse of the Creatures, when by them wee take occasion of some spirituall Meditation: As when wee see their beau∣tie, to thinke how infinitely beautifull hee is that created them; when we consider how delightfull and profitable they are vnto man, to conceiue thereby what surpassing excellencies God hath prepared for his owne Children in his Kingdome of Glory; when wee obserue how seruiceable they are to man, to thinke how much more diligent wee should be in ser∣uing our great Lord and Master, who hath giuen both to them and vs our birth and being. More particularly, when we behold the earth whereof we were made, let vs take occasion to thinke of our owne basenesse, and that we shall be resolued into earth againe; when we see the flowers of the field, let vs thinke of the momentany mutability of worldly prosperity, and of our owne mortality, who are like vnto them; when we looke vpon the Suns glorious brightnesse, let vs take occasion thereby to thinke of Gods glori∣ous Maiesty, and of the glory and brightnesse of the Saints in heauen, who shall farre exceed it. Of which, we haue our Sauiour Christ an example for our imitation, who tooke occasion from corporall bread and water, to dis∣course of the spirituall Manna and Waters of life; from a worldly feast, to speake of a spirituall banket, and of the liuing waters of his grace and holy Spirit, giuen to all that beleeue in him. And this is a fit and profitable ex∣ercise on the Lords Day commended vnto vs by the Scriptures, and pra∣ctice of the Church, as heereby it appeareth, in that the Psalme, which was specially appointed for the Sabbath, containeth in it for the most part a Meditation vpon the workes of God.

Notes

• Mat. 25. 35.
• Eccl. 12. 7. Esa. 40. 6.
• Iob. 4. and the 6.
• Luk. 14. 15, 16 17. Iob. 7. 38, 39.
• Psal. 92.