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. 7 Of the end of this examina∣tion, and time when it is to be performed.

And thus we see the subiect matter and manner of our examination,

with the helpes and meanes whereby we may be furthered in it. Now the maine end of it is, that it may serue as an effectuall meanes to bring vs to repentance; for therefore we labour to come vnto a true sight of our sins, that we may vnfainedly bewaile them with bitter griefe. Therefore doe we take a thorow view of our sinnes, and the Iudgements of God, mise∣ries and punishments, which doe accompany them, that seeing the vgly deformities of the one, and feeling or foreseeing the smart of the other, we may be moued, either not to sinne, or being ouertaken, to leaue and forsake them, and to preuent our owne woe by speedy repentance. The time of this examination is alwayes in season, because repentance is neuer vnseasonable. For seeing the score is seldome cleere, and our frailty such, that conscience is occasioned to hold the pen still in hand, and euery hand while writeth vp our debts; therefore we must be still examining, cleering and crossing of our bookes, that nothing may stand vpon account, when we shall be called to Iudgement; which being most certaine, and the time most vncertaine, it would be our wisedome to be alwaies in readinesse. In which regard it were to be wished, that we would spend some little time, euery night before vve goe to sleepe, in examining our selues, and cleering our accounts for the day past, the which I here passe ouer, hauing spoken of it before in the daily exercise. But most solemnly and seriously are wee to set ourselues about this duty of examination, when as wee haue some speciall cause of renewing our repentance. As when wee desire any extra∣ordinary benefit which vve greatly vvant, when we vndertake any waighty businesse; vvhen vvee humble our selues in any solemne manner before God, either publikely or priuately, in the sight and sense of our sinnes, vvhich vve desire should be pardoned, or of some imminent and approch∣ing iudgement, vvhich vvee vvould preuent, or some present affliction vvhich vve vvould haue remoued; or vvhen vvee prepare our selues that vve may come as vvorthy ghests to the Lords Table. Then is this exami∣nation * 1.1 most seasonable, as being the best preparatiue for humiliation, fer∣uent prayer, and serious repentance.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Cor. 11. 28.