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 we must chiefly clense and keepe our hearts from those corrup∣tions which are most dan∣gerous.

Now as wee must obserue a carefull watch in keeping out, or clensing our hearts from all sinne and corruption, so aboue all, that they doe not nourish in them such as are most dangerous to our soules health. As first and principally we must beware of those sinnes and vices, vnto which, through our naturall corruption we are most inclined, the which we shall discerne by our often falling into them, by our lothnesse to leaue them, and after we haue resolued to part with them, and haue already broken from them by vnfained repentance, by our hanging after them in our car∣nall loue, which maketh vs, after we are forced to leaue them for the safety of our soules, to looke backe vnto them (like Lots wife towards Sodom) with a desire to returne, were wee not beaten from them with the feare of Gods Iudgements. By which signes, when we haue discouered them, we must with greatest care watch ouer our hearts, that wee bee not againe ouertaken of them; first, because wee haue greatest cause to hate and ab∣horre them, seeing by them wee haue most dishonoured and displeased God. Secondly, because they haue most often wounded our consciences, and giuen vs the greatest foyles. Thirdly, because they haue most distur∣bed our inward peace, and depriued our hearts of spirituall ioy in the as∣surance of Gods loue. Fourthly, because we are still most prone to fall in∣to them, by reason that our corrupt natures are so much inclined towards them; and our carnall loue doting vpon them, are ready vpon all occa∣sions to renew their league and giue them entertainement. And therefore as with greatest care and vigilance, wee arme our selues against such ene∣mies, as haue a strong party in our owne City, and many secret Traytors, which are alwayes ready to open the gates and let them in; so must wee keepe the narrowest watch, and bend our chiefest force against such sinnes as our flesh and carnall lusts doe most affect, and are in greatest league and liking with them, seeing these secret Traytors are still in readinesse to giue them entertainement, and betray our soules vnto them, if wee doe but a little intermit our spirituall watch. Secondly, we must with singular cir∣cumspection take heed of those vices and sinnes, which doe most ordina∣rily waite vpon our speciall callings, seeing by reason that wee are daily conuersant in them, they doe make against our soules most often and fierce assaults; and the rather, because by our many foyles and falls they become customable, and harden our hearts in them, our often sinning searing the conscience, and taking away the sense of sinne. And thus Ma∣gistrates must watch ouer themselues, that they doe not peruert iudge∣ment,

by taking bribes and rewards, and that they haue no respect of per∣sons, nor for feare or fauour doe any iniustice. Thus Lawyers must take speciall heed, that they doe not for their fees blind the eyes of the Iudge by their false and corrupt pleading, paynting ouer a foule cause with faire glosses, and that they doe not protract suites, that they may grow rich out of their Clyents pouerty. And Physicians, that they doe not deale vnfaith∣fully with their patients, and delay the cure for their owne aduantage. And Diuines, that they doe not for worldly lucre become non-residents, staruing their peoples soules, to fill their owne purses, and purchase fields with the price of blood: And that they bee not slothfull and negligent in feeding their soules that are committed to their charge, following Peters counsell to Christ; Master, spare thy selfe. And Tradesmen, that they doe not vse deceit in buying and selling, nor tell vntruths, to put off their wares at an higher rate. And finally, thus must Artificers watch ouer themselues, that they doe not their worke deceitfully, onely for sale, and vnseruiceable for vse. Vnto which speciall circumspection, in respect of our callings and the sinnes incident vnto them, the Scriptures exhort. Thus Iohn the Baptist perswaded the Publicanes, whose calling was to liue by toles and customes, to take heed of exacting more then their due; and the Souldiers, that they should beware of offering violence vnto any man, but bee content with their owne wages. And our Sauiour hauing to deale with rich landed men, willeth them to take heed of couetousnesse. And the Apostles Paul and Peter, speaking vnto Ministers and Pastors, exhort them to take heed to their flockes committed vnto their charge, that they did feed them with the bread of life, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. Finally, we must watch ouer our hearts, that they be not cor∣rupted and drawne away from God with the sins of the times and Coun∣trey in which wee liue, both because wee are apt to follow a multitude in doing euill, and are easily mis-led by bad examples, our corruption, like tinder, receiuing and nourishing these hellish sparkes; and being falne into these sinnes, wee are apt to continue in them without feeling or re∣morse, the multitude of offenders taking away the sense of sinne. And therefore, as in infectious times and places we are not willing (vnlesse we be fooles) to haue the plague for company; but the more the contagion is spred, the more we increase our care that we doe not come into places in∣fected, or if we be constrained through the necessity of our calling to liue in them, yet we take heed that we doe not consort with those that are visi∣ted, further then necessity and charity requireth, and carefully and conti∣nually vse our best preseruatiues to keepe out the infection, or if wee be tainted, the best Antidotes and Cordials to expell the poyson with all speed, before it haue seazed vpon the heart: so must we vse the like or grea∣ter care, when we liue in places and times infected with speciall and hay∣nous sinnes, that wee shunne those that are tainted with them, or vse our best preseruatiues to preserue vs from their infection; or if wee be touched in the common contagion, that wee doe not nourish the poyson in our hearts by carnall loue, but expell it with what speed we can, by rising a∣gaine in vnfained repentance; seeing the danger heere as farre exceedeth the other, as the soule the body; the euils of sinne, the euils of sicknesse; or

death which is endlesse and euerlasting, that which is corporall and mo∣mentany. And thus we are to watch ouer our soules, hearts and internall faculties. The like watch we must keep ouer our all outward parts, and first ouer all our senses, the which are the gates of our soules, by which all things enter, nothing almost being in the vnderstanding, heart, and me∣mory, which hath not found admittance by the senses. And therefore as those who desire to preserue the city in safety when it is besieged, do keep most diligent watch about the gates, suffering none to passe in or out, but onely knowne friends, without due examination whether their comming be for good or ill: so being besieged on all sides by our spirituall enemies, we must keepe a strait watch ouer our senses, which are the vsuall passage by which they send their forces to surprize vs, admitting nothing to en∣ter, without due triall taken, whether it be a friend or foe to our saluation: for as long as we thus watch the gates, and keepe them fast locked and barred against all euils, the City of our soules, and Castle of our hearts, can neuer be sacked and spoyled by all the might and malice of our spiri∣tuall enemies. Now this watch ouer our senses doth chiefly consist in two things. First, in restraining them of their liberty, and not suffering them to range and roue at pleasure, and whither they list, nor to satisfie them∣selues, euen vnto saciety, with sensuall delights, and full fruition of their seuerall obiects; but oftentimes stopping them in their course and full careire, let vs call them to account, whether the things which they are ex∣ercised about, are as profitable to our soules, as pleasant to our senses; or contrariwise, if they doe not, like sweet drinkes, conueigh into our soules some deadly poyson, and bring more hurt and hinderance to the life of grace, then ioy and comfort to the life of nature. Secondly, when wee al∣low our senses to take their pleasures, we must carefully obserue, that they delight thēselues only in things lawful, both in respect of matter, measure, and manner, not suffering our eyes to gaze vpon hurtfull vanities, and las∣ciuious and wanton obiects, nor our eares to heare scurrilous iests, and such rotten speeches as will corrupt good manners, nor our taste to draw vs on, by delighting in pleasant meates and drinkes, to excesse, gluttony and drunkennesse; but as wee may, to satisfie nature, and to refresh and comfort our hearts, giue some liberty vnto our senses to inioy their de∣lights; so our care must be, that we not onely make choyce of lawfull ob∣iects, but also that they be exercised about them in a right manner; and so moderated in respect of the measure, that our hearts doe not surfet of them, nor be glewed by carnall delight vnto the earth, and so made vnfit for spirituall exercises and heauenly meditations. But we must so vse these sensuall pleasures, as not abusing them, to cheere the spirit, and not pam∣per the flesh, as comforts in our pilgrimage, to make vs to goe on with more cheerfulnesse in our way, and not as impediments to hinder vs in our iourney, by fastening our hearts vnto the vanities of the world.

Notes

• Luk. 3. 12, 13, 14
• Luk. 12. 15.
• Act. 20. 28.
• 1. Pet. 5. 2.