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Author: Ball, John, 1585-1640.
Title: The power of godlines [sic] both doctrinally and practically handled wherein the nature, comprehensiveness, parts and properties of a godly life are discovered by Scripture-evidence, and authority ... : whereunto are annexed distinct treatises 1. of the by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr. John Ball ... ; published by Simeon Ashe ...
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Print source: The power of godlines [sic] both doctrinally and practically handled wherein the nature, comprehensiveness, parts and properties of a godly life are discovered by Scripture-evidence, and authority ... : whereunto are annexed distinct treatises 1. of the by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr. John Ball ... ; published by Simeon Ashe ...
Ball, John, 1585-1640., Ashe, Simeon, d. 1662.
London: Printed by Abraham Miller, for George Sawbridge ..., 1657.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/B17454.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
TO THE Right Honourable EDWARD Earl of MANCHESTER, Vicount Mandevile, Baron of Kimbolton.
TO THE Christian Reader.
The Brief CONTENTS OF THE Principall Matters contained in each BOOKE.
BOOK I. Of the Properties of a Godly Life.
BOOK II. Of the Parts of a Godly Life.
BOOK III, Of the Affections.
Book four, In two parts.
BOOK V. Of Prayer.
BOOK VI. An Exposition upon the Lords Prayer.
errata
THE FIRST BOOK. Of the PROPERTIES Of A Godly Life.
CHAP. I. Discovering the Nature, and Extent of true Godliness, together with Arguments to perswade both the knowledg and practice thereof.
CHAP. II. Of the first Property of a godly life, viz. Wisdome or Prudence. What Wisdome is. The Author, Offices and Parts thereof. Rules to be observed in the practice of Wisdome, (as touching the collation of Laws, and our obedience thereunto; of Simulation, or Dissimulation; of bodily presence at Idolatrous services; and what a Christian may do to tame his life.) Also Rules to be observed in our carriage to∣wards all sorts of men; wherein many necessary cases are resolved. Lastly, of the excellency and profit of Wisdome, with sundry motives to stirre men up to seeke after it.
CHAP. III. Of the second Property of a godly life, viz. Exactnesse, Accuratnesse or Circumspection. What is thereby signified. What things are required in an exquisite life. What the especiall furtherances of this exquisitenesse are. Sundry Reasons to shew the necessity of an accurate or circumspect course, with divers necessary helps for the attaining thereof.
CHAP. IV. Of the third Property of a godly life, viz. Uprightnesse. What things are comprehended under it. What conformity of the heart, to the will of God implies. Reasons to perswade thereunto. The effect or tokens of Uprightnesse; with the meanes for the attaining thereof.
CHAP. V. The fourth Property of a godly life, viz. Integrity or Perfection; What is thereby signified. Thirteen Reasons to perswade thereunto. The effects or tokens of Integrity, with the meanes how it is to be attain∣ed, and preserved.
CHAP. VI. The fifth Property of a godly life, viz. Truth and Faithfulnesse. What thereby is implied, opened in sundry Particulars. Divers Reasons to shew the necessity and use thereof. The meanes by which it may be attain∣ed and strengthened. The effects or evidences of Truth or Sound∣nesse; with sundry helpes both for the finding out and preventing un∣soundnesse or guile of spirit.
CHAP. VII. The Sixth Property of a godly life, viz. Righteousnesse. Of the Sig∣nification of the Word Righteous; And how the godly (in a Go∣spell sense) may be said to be Righteous. What things Righteous∣nesse implies; and wherein the Nature of it consists. Sundry Reasons to perswade us to labour after it. Encouragements to con∣tinue in a Righteous course notwithstanding all opposition. Lastly, The Evidences or Tokens of true Righteousnesse, with the meanes to be used for the strengthining and preserving thereof.
CHAP. VIII. The seaventh property of a Godly life, viz. Willingness and Chearfull∣ness. What therein is implied. Reasons to shew the necessity thereof. Signes or Evidences of a willing spirit. The Author thereof. The Means by which this Willingness and Chearfullness is to be preserved, and dullness and unwillingness removed.
CHAP. IX. The eighth Property of a godly life, viz. Purity and Cleanness. What therein is implied. Reasons to incite and move us to labour after Purity. The Authour of it. The Meanes by which it is wrought. How the Saints may be said to be pure, and yet not deserve the Name of Ca∣tharisti. Signes or Evidences of Purity, with the Meanes by which it is to be preserved and encreased.
CHAP. X. The ninth Property of a godly life, viz. Humility and Meekness. What things are therein employed. Reasons to perswade us to la∣bour after Humility. The Effects or Evidences thereof, with the Course to be taken for the obtaining and preserving an humble Spirit.
CHAP. XI. The tenth Property of a godly life, viz. Dilligence, or Constancy. What things are therein employed. Reasons to shew the necessity thereof: The advantage and benefit of Dilligence and Constancy. The danger of sloth and inconstancy, together with the course to be ta∣ken for the remedy thereof.
CHAP. XII. Of the Titles that are given to them that believe in Christ. They are called Saints. Mercifull Ones. Excellent or Precious. True or Faithfull. Elect and Chosen. The Priviledges of the Elect, with the Signes of Election.
THE SECOND BOOK, Of the Parts of a godly Life.
CHAP. I. All Sinne is to be loathed and forsaken; Not for a time onely, but for ever; Not in Judgment and Affection onely, but in Practice also. The Ʋse that the People of God are to make of their slips and failings; and the gaine that they may get thereby. It is not enough onely to abstain from evil, but we must be alwaies ready prepared for the do∣ing of good. Encouragements to the doing of good; with the be∣nefits thereof. And Comforts against all discouragements in the waies of well-doing.
CHAP. II. Of the first Operation of Man, viz. Knowledge or Understanding. What Knowledge is. The end of Spirituall Knowledge. The Sinnes contrary thereunto, that are to be avoided, and the Meanes by which True Knowledge is to be obtained.
CHAP. III. Of the Second Operation of Man, viz. Memory. Wherein it consists. Upon what things the Memories of the godly are to be exercised. What it is to remember things after an holy manner, with the Benefits of such a Remembrance. The course to be taken for the obtaining an holy Memory. And what the Sinnes, that are opposite thereunto, which mst be shunned.
CHAP. IV. Of the third Operation of Man, viz. Thought or Cogitation. What ti is. Thoughts are not free. The Reason why men think Thoughts to be free, with the danger and mischief of such De∣lusion. The Seate or Subject of Thoughts. Of good Thoughts, what they are, and the Benefit thereof. Of evill Thoughts, what they are, and the danger thereof. Rules to be observed for the governmen of our Thoughts. How the Thoughts of the god∣ly, and unregenerate differ. Of Fathers, Young men, and Babes in Christianity; How each of these have their mindes occupied. The best are not free from evill Cogitations; Reasons why God suffers his Children to be molested therewith. And the course to be taken for the preventing thereof.
CHAP. V. Of a second sort of evil Thoughts, viz. Vain and Roving Cogita∣tions. The Effects or Consequences of such Thoughts, with the course to be taken for the prevention thereof. Wherein is a large digression about Meditation, shewing how it may be raised both from the Works and Word of God, from the Book of the Creature, and of the Scriptures.
CHAP. VI. Of the third sort of evil Thoughts, viz. such as proceed from original corruption, which are of divers kindes, respecting God, his worship, Word and Works, our neighbour, or our selves. Rules for the triall of our selves touching our Thoughts. How these evil Thoughts are to be reformed.
CHAP. VII. Of a fourth sort of evil Thoughts, viz Melancholike Thoughts. What they are, the difference betwixt trouble of Conscience, and Me∣lancholy. Of a fift kind of evil-Thoughts, viz. Satanical Thoughts. Why the Lord suffers his Children to be troubled therewith. Of the difference betwixt the godly and the wicked in respect of their evil Cogitations.
CHAP. VIII. Of the fourth Operation of the soul of man, viz. Invention. Of the Devises of the godly; Reasons to shew that they are Devisers of good things. Motives to encourage men to Devise that which is good, and to act it. What the opposite Sinnes are, which must be shunned.
CHAP. IX. Of the fift Operation of the soul of man, viz. Judgment. How the Judgment of the godly is to be exercised. Wherein the sanctification of the Judgment consists. How it is to be obtained, and what the contrary Evils are that must be shunned.
CHAP. X. Of the sixt Operation of the soul, viz. Willing and Nilling. How the godly are to exercise this faculty. In what order good is to be desi∣red. And What opposite Sinnes in the exercise of this faculty, must be avoided.
THE THIRD BOOK, Of the Affections.
CHAP. I. Reasons to shew why our Affections are to be exercised according to the Rule of Gods Word. How a man may come to know to what Passion his soul most bendeth. How the Affections are to be ordered. What that disorder of Affection is, that must be shunned; And how it may be discovered. The meanes by which unmortified Passions are to be subdued.
CHAP. II. Generall Rules to direct us how to deale with them that be passionate. How the Affections may be divided. Of the sanctified exercise of those Affections that embrace their Object, and of those that decline their Object, with Reasons to move us to affect that which is good, and to avoid that which is evil. The Reason why we are so back∣ward to good, and forward to evil. A comparison betwixt the meanes of Vertue, and allurements to Vice. Of the Kindes of Af∣fections, viz. Intellectuall and Sensuall, These are not to be abando∣ned, but onely moderated.
CHAP. III. Wherein the holy Exercise of Love consists, and why it is to be rightly ordered. The Means or Motives whereby Love may be stirred up. What those Exercises of Love are that must be shunned. Of the Marks or Signes of Love.
CHAP. IV. Wherein the Sanctified Exercise of Hatred standeth, and why it is necessa∣ry. How this Hatred may be stirred up in us. Of the severall Kinds of Hatred that are to be shunned, or corrected; And who they are that are most subject to this disordered Passion.
CHAP. V. Why the Affection of Pleasure or Delight is to be exercised aright. Of the Delights of Faith and Reason, and of Sense. Rules for the right Ordering of Delight. How this Affection is stirred up, with the Effects thereof.
CHAP. VI. Why the Affection of Grief is to be Exercised aright. Of Sensible and Intellectuall Grief. Rules for the right Ordering of Grief, and how it may be stirred up in us. Motives against immoderate Sorrow, with the Meanes to redress it.
CHAP. VII. Why the Affection of Hope is to be moderated aright. Wherein the sanctified Exercise thereof consists. The Effects of Hope. The sevrall Kindes of disordered Hope that must be shunned. How a lively Hope is to be stirred up, and preserved in us.
CHAP. VIII. Why Courage and hardiness is to be exercised aright, and wherein the right exercise thereof consists. How faith begets Courage. The things wherein spirituall Courage doth shew it self. The kindes of disordered Courage that must be shunned or corrected. The means whereby spiri∣tuall Courage may be encreased.
CHAP. IX. Why Fear is to be rightly ordered. Reasons taken from the ill Effects of disordered Fear; And the singular Benefits of right ordered Fear. Wherein the Holy Exercise thereof consists. How Faith stirreth up this Fear in us. The severall Kindes of Fear that are to be shunned or amended, with Directions how to depend upon God, when all out∣ward meanes fail.
CHAP. X. Why Shame is to be rightly Ordered, and wherein the Holy Exercise thereof consists. How Faith doth stirre up this Shame in us, with the Effects thereof; and the Kinds of disordered Shame that are to be shunned.
CHAP. XI. Why Anger is to be ordered aright? Of holy or lawfull Anger, and what that Anger is, which is forbidden in Scripture. Wherein the right ordering of Anger consists, and how just holy Anger is to be stirred up in us, with the severall kindes of disordered Anger that must be shunned.
CHAP. XII. Severall Motives to stirre men up against carnall Anger. And the Ob∣jections that are usually made by passionate men, (by way of excuse) answered.
CHAP. XIII. Of the means whereby corrupt Anger is to be bridled, subdued and con∣quered.
CHAP. XIV. Shewing, how we are to behave our selves after Anger hath made an en∣trance, and taken place in us: And also what the Remedies are, where∣by we may cure Anger in others.
CHAP. XV. Reasons to perswade to the right Exercise of Mildness. When it is rightly Exercised. How Mildness and true Zeal may stand together. The Use and Benefit of Mildness. Motives to perswade us to the Practice thereof. And how it is to be stirred up in us, with the severall Kindes of inordinate Mildness that must be shunned.
THE FOURTH BOOK,
CHAP. I. From whence the Spiritual Combate proceedeth. What we are to un∣derstand by the flesh, and what by the Spirit. How these two can be said to fight together. The Properties of these enemies. Rea∣sons to shew that the flesh is a most dangerous enemy, with sundry Encouragements to undertake this Combate.
CHAP. II. Concerning the Subject of this Combate, in whom it is fought; And how the flesh and the Spirit being contrary, can be said to consist in the same Subject. What this Conflict is, and whether it be in all the regenerate after the same manner. The Causes there∣of, with the manner of the Fight in our severall faculties and parts.
CHAP. III. Of the divers kindes of Combate that be in unregenerate men; And how they differ from that Combate which is proper to the Regenerate. The issue, or event of the Spiritual Com∣bate. The Meanes to be used for the weakening of the flesh, and strengthening of the spirit unto this Combate. The effect of the Combate, with the Properties thereof.
PART 2. Of the Government of the Tongue.
CHAP. I. Divers Reasons to perswade us to govern our Tongue aright. The spring, or root of a well ordered Tongue. That no man of himself is able to govern his Tongue aright.
CHAP. II. Shewing, 1. Wherein the right government of the Tongue consists. What the Matter and Manner of our Speech must be; as also the Season, Measure, and End thereof; together with the course that a Christian should take to prevent rash and hasty Speeches. 2. Of holy Silence: Reasons to perswade thereunto: The Cause, and kindes of lawfull Silence, and what things are to be concealed. The Persons before whom Silence is to be used, with divers Rules to be observed therein.
CHAP. III. Wherein the abuse of the Tongue consists, viz. in sinfull Speech, and unlawfull Silence. With the several Kindes of sinfull Speech, and unlawfull Silence that is to be avoided.
THE FIFTH BOOK: Of PRAYER.
CHAP. I. A Definition of Prayer. Every wish and desire is not Prayer. The Holy Ghost is the principal efficient Cause of Prayer. That Prayer is a principal Part of Gods Worship, and of necessary Use for us.
CHAP. II. Motives and Encouragements to pray, and continue in Prayer. Divers Objections answered, and many necessary cases of Consci∣ence resolved.
CHAP. III. Shewing that Liberty to pray is a singular and rare Privi∣ledge.
CHAP. IV. Shewing to whom we must pray. Who can or may pray. That Prayer is a work of the inner man. Touching the length of our Prayers. What things are required in Prayer. The especiall furtherance of Prayer, and whether it be lawfull to use the Voice therein.
CHAP. V. Rules to be observed touching the Externall Form of words in Prayer. The lawfull use of a set Form of Prayer in Publique or in Private. Also of Reading Prayer upon a Book, or using a stinted Form devised by Others.
CHAP. VI. Prayer is to be made in a Language that we our selves understand, and those that joyn with us. How we are to address our selves unto God, and whether to begin our Prayers with Petition or Thanksgiving.
CHAP. VII. Shewing the common and general Impediments of Prayer. The end of Prayer. The Place, and Time thereof. Motives to frequent Prayer. Gesture to be used therein.
CHAP. VIII. Of Petition. What it is. The Necessity, and unspeakable Bene∣fits thereof. Divers Reasons to shew that we must pray to God a∣lone. How we are to conceive of God in our minds, in Prayer. The Rules to be observed in our calling upon God.
CHAP. IX. Shewing that we must come to God in the Name of Christ, the onely Mediatour betwixt God and man, who makes Intercession for us; And not pray to Saints, or Angels to intercede for us.
CHAP. X. Sundry Reasons to shew that Invocation of Saints, is neither necessary, pious, nor profitable, but idolatrous.
THE SIXTH BOOK. AN EXPOSITION Upon the Lords Prayer.
CHAP. I. Of the first part of the Lords Prayer, viz. the Preface. The things therein to be considered. Who is meant by Father, and who are allowed to call God Father. Of the Prayers of unregenerate men, and how God heares them.
CHAP. II. Shewing, what the Word Our imports; That a Christian may in Prayer, say My God, and Pray specially for himself or certain others, yet so as that he must be mindful of all that belong to the election of Grace. How God is said to be in Heaven, and what is thereby signi∣fied.
CHAP. III. The Rules to be observed in the Exposition of the several Petitions in this Prayer, and how they are to be distinguished. Of the first Petition, wherein is shewed what is meant by Name, and by hal∣lowed. The Ground of this Petition, what we desire of God therein; And how God is glorified of us in spirit, word, and workes.
CHAP. IV. Wherein is shewed, what we ask for others in this Petition, what the evils are that we pray against, and the wants that we bewail, with di∣rections how we may devotionally make this Petition; And what the especiall blessings are for which we must give thanks according to this Petition, and the practicall conclusions that are to be drawn from thence.
CHAP. V. Of the Second Petition, what the word Kingdom doth signifie, and in what sense it is to be taken in this Petition, concerning the King, the Subjects, the Lawes, and the Degrees of this King∣dom; Why we are to pray for the coming of Gods Kingdom; The ground of this Petition, with the particular things that we therein desire.
CHAP. VI. The Evils that we are to pray against, the wants that are to be be∣wailed, the special Blessings for which we are to give thanks, with sundry usefull Conclusions, that are to be drawn from this Petition.
CHAP. VII. Of the third petition, The things therein to be noted, what is meant by the will of God, by In earth, and As it is in heaven. The ground of this petition, with the particular things therein desired, and reasons to shew the necessity thereof. The benefits of obedience, with the sin and misery of disobedience.
CHAP. VIII. The Things that we bewail, the Evils that we pray against, the special Things for which we are to give thanks, with the severall usefull Infe∣rences that may be drawn from this Petition.
CHAP. IX. Of the Fourth Petition, shewing the signification of the Word Give. And what is meant by Bread, and Daily Bread. Why this Petition, for Temporal, is put before others, for Spiritual Things.
CHAP. X. The Reasons why this Petition is to be made. Who must pray, Give us. How earthly Blessings are to be desired, whether absolutly, or with condition. In what sense Bread is said to be Ours. The difference be∣twixt the Wicked and the Godly in possessing outward Blessings. That it is both lawfull and necessary for a Christian to lay up for time to come.
CHAP. XI. Shewing what we desire of God in this Petition; The ground there∣of. The particular things we are taught to ask under the name of Bread, and Daily Bread. And how we may lawfully pray for riches. The Evils we pray against. The wants we are to be∣wail. The special Blessing for which we are to give thanks in this Petition.
CHAP. XII. Several practical Conclusions that may be drawn from this Petiti∣on, with directions to know a lawfull from an unlawfull de∣sire.
CHAP. XIII. Shewing what is meant by Forgiveness and by Debts. That God doth not forgive without satisfaction. How many wayes forgiveness of sin may be considered. And how he is to be qualified that would make this petition. The ground thereof. And what we desire of God therein.
CHAP. XIV. The wants that are to be bewailed. The Evils that we pray a∣gainst. The special Blessings for which we ought to be thank∣full; And the usefull Conclusions that may be drawn from this Petition.
CHAP. XV. Shewing, the meaning of these words, As we forgive them that tres∣pass against us. Who our Debtors are, And what it is to forgive them. Several objections answered, many necessary conclusions de∣ducted, with divers reasons to perswade us to forgive the injuries that we receive from others.
CHAP. XVI. Of the Sixth Petition. What Temptation is, with the several Kinds thereof. How God is said to Tempt his servants, and for what end he doth it. How man Tempts God, and how Satan, the World and the Flesh Tempt man.
CHAP. XVII. Descovering, what the Temptations are that we pray against in this Peti∣tion: what it is to Lead into Temptation, and how God may be said to do it.
CHAP. XVIII. Discovering what the blessings are that we pray for in this petition, the evils that we pray against, the wants that we are to bewail, and the mercyes for wchih we must be thankful.
CHAP. XIX. Discovering the several Inference, or Conclusions that may be drawn from this Petition.
CHAP. XX. Of the Second Clause of this Petition, viz. But Deliver us from evil; Discovering what it is to Deliver, and what is meant by Evil. What it is we desire of God in these words; with the Conclusions that may be drawn from thence.
CHAP. XXI. Of the Confirmation, viz. Thine is the Kingdom, &c. The mean∣ing of these words; And the Conclusions that may be drawn from thence.
CHAP. XXII. Of the Conclusion, viz. Amen. The inferences that may be drawn from thence. The principal use of the Lords Prayer; And why we are neither to refuse, nor confine our selves to this form.
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