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 Of watching ouer our sen∣ses.

MOre especially, wee must keepe this carefull watch ouer our eyes, which are the windowes of our soules, through which they behold all earthly obiects, not suffering them to roue a∣bout at pleasure, and to glut themselues with delightfull sights, but restraining them as much as we can, that they doe not behold that in this kind, which it is not lawfull to couet: For of see∣ing comes louing; and of louing, lusting and desiring. We must keepe them from beholding any thing that may be vnto vs a ground of tentati∣on, whereby we may be drawne into any sinne, or which may be a distra∣ction vnto vs in Gods seruice, and hinder our well-performing of any Christian exercise, but let vs, as neere as wee can, make choyce of such sights as will more profit the soule, then please the sense. Thus Iob watch∣ed ouer his eyes, and because he would be sure to keep them within com∣passe, he leaueth them not to their owne liberty, but keepeth them vnder couenant, that they should not in any wanton manner, so much as looke vp∣on a woman. And this is that which Salomon meaneth, where he saith, that the wise mans eyes are in his head, but the eyes of a foole are in the ends of the earth. Not that they doe not all alike stand in their heads, but that a wise man leaueth not his eyes loose to their owne liberty, but ruleth and go∣uerneth them with wisedome and discretion, not suffering them to be∣hold vnlawfull obiects, or those which are lawfull, vnlawfully, either in respect of manner, or measure; whereas a foole vseth no restraint, but suf∣fereth them to roue into all the corners of the world. Into which folly Dauid fell, when he suffered his eyes to gaze their fill vpon the beauty of another mans wife, this folly drawing him on to commit a greater folly in Israel; and therefore hauing lamentable experience of his owne frail∣ty, he keepeth afterwards ouer them a surer watch; which yet not being sure enough, he desireth the Lord to watch ouer him, and to turne away his eyes, lest he should behold vanity. With like care wee must watch ouer our eares, to keepe them from hearing any thing which is vaine and sinfull; tending to the corrupting of our soules, or the hindring of them in the growth of grace: As all filthy communication and speeches tending to Gods dishonour, and our owne, or our neighbours hurt, all infulse and vn∣sauory talke, bitter taunts, and vnchristian and spitefull iests, all whisper∣ings, backbiting and slandering, and all such discourses as feed the flesh, and starue the spirit, wed vs to the world, and weane vs from God. For though like the Syrens songs they tickle and delight the eare, yet they wound the heart and conscience with sinne, and bring vs into such a spi∣rituall phrenzie, that we are ready to leape ouer-boord into a sea of per∣dition. And therefore we must stop our eares against these bewitching sorcerers; and not for the pleasing of our carnall sense, hazard the destru∣ction of our precious soules. The hearing is called the learned sense; and happy are they, who by their care and watchfulnesse prouide for them∣selues

profitable and good Masters, of whom they may learne sauing wis∣dome; and not such as teach nothing else but vanity and sinne. And the eares like conduit-pipes conuey vnto the soule, either the cleere streames of the water of Life, or the filthy puddles of sinne and death; and there∣fore let vs be carefull to bring them daily to be filled at Gods Fountaine, lest the diuell abuse them, to draine the filth out of the polluted sinkes and channels of wicked mouthes. Thus we must watch ouer our taste, that we doe not, to please the palate, vse such excesse in our diet, as will disable vs to Christian duties; and that the end of our eating be chiefly the refresh∣ing and comforting of our bodies, that they may be fit for Gods seruice who hath fed them, and not the pampering of the flesh with sensuall de∣light. For if we giue way to our appetite, this short and brutish pleasure will bring vpon vs innumerable euils: As vpon our bodies, sicknesses and short life; and vpon our soules and bodies both, sloth and idlenesse, lum∣pish heauinesse and vnaptnesse to any good action, drowzie dulnesse, or vaine mirth and futilous babbling, shortnesse of memory, and blockish∣nesse of vnderstanding, wanton dalliance and inflammation of our hearts with vnlawfull lusts. And thus finally wee must watch ouer our sense of touching, that we doe not, to please it, inslaue our selues to effe∣minate daintinesse, thinking that wee are quite vndone, if wee may not tumble at our ease vpon our beds of downe, and goe (like those in Kings houses) in soft rayment; or (like Diues) be clothed in Purple and fine linnen euery day. But let vs inure this sense to man-like hardnesse, that wee may not thinke it strange and intolerable to lye hardly, and goe barely, if Christ who suffered so much for vs, doe call vs to suffer a little for the te∣stimony of his truth. And much more must wee restraine this sense from all vnlawfull obiects; as vnchaste kisses, lasciuious imbracements, and wan∣ton dalliances, which tend to the inflaming of our hearts with vncleane lusts, and make our bodies, which are the Temples of the holy Ghost, polluted brothel-houses, and filthy styes for wicked spirits.

Notes

• Math. 5. 28.
• Iob 31. 1.
• Eccles. 2. 14.
• Psal. 119. 37.
• Math. 11. 8.
• Luk. 16. 1, 2.