A Golden Chain

If this be so, miserable is the practise of such that give up their bodies and souls to live in licentious wantonness, in the pleasures of their beastly sins, in idleness. For they offer themselves a sacrifice, not to God but to the devil.

If this be so, miserable is the practise of such that giue vp their bodies and soules to liue in licentious wantonnesse, in the pleasures of their beastly sinnes, in idlenes. For they offer themselues a sacrifice, not to God but to the deuill.

Thirdly, considering we are anointed to be spiritual kings even in this life, we must walk worthy so great a calling. That this may be so, first of all such as are governors set over others, must rule not according to their wills and pleasures, but in the Lord: withal, doing homage to their head and king Christ Jesus himself. Secondly, we must every one of us rule and bear sway even as kings over our own thoughts, wills, affections, over-mastering them as much as we possibly can by Gods word and spirit: withal, maintaining and proclaiming continual war against our corrupt natures, the devil, and the world. And truly he which can bear rule over his own heart, is a right king indeed: and having received some measure of grace to reign over himself in this life, he shall reign for ever with Christ in the life to come. As for such as are carried away with the swing of their corruptions, having blindness and ignorance to reign in their minds, rebellion in their wills and affections, looseness in their whole lives, they may carry the outward form and show of Christians as long as they will, but indeed they are no spiritual kings but very bondmen: the strong man Satan keeps as yet the hold of their hearts, and as Lord and king holds up his sceptre there.

Thirdly, considering we are annointed to be spirituall kings euen in this life, we must walke worthie so great a calling. That this may be so, first of all such as are gouernours set ouer others, must rule not according to their wills and pleasures, but in the Lord: withall, doing homage to their head and king Christ Iesus himselfe. Secondly, we must euery one of vs rule and beare sway euen as kings ouer our owne thoughts, wills, affections, ouer-mastering them as much as we possibly can by Gods word and spirit: withall, maintaining and proclaiming continuall warre against our corrupt natures, the deuill, and the world. And truly he which can beare rule ouer his owne heart, is a right king indeede: and hauing receiued some measure of grace to raigne ouer himselfe in this life, he shall raigne for euer with Christ in the life to come. As for such as are carried away with the swinge of their corruptions, hauing blindnes and ignorance to raigne in their minds, rebellion in their wils and affections, loosenes in their whole liues, they may carrie the outward forme and shew of Christians as long as they will, but indeede they are no spirituall kings but very bondmen: the strong man Satan keepes as yet the hold of their hearts, and as Lord and king holds vp his scepter there.