Which, how common soever it be to be found almost in every place where God hath any Church, yet we must not think, that it can be no otherwise: as though common Christians were not able to reach and attain to any daily serving of God joyfully, if diligence were used in beating things into them oft: (for both we may find here and there some few, who do happily enjoy that care and liberty daily: and also many moan and long for it at first, when they have but a dim sight & small taste of it) but they are not trained to it, nor furthered in it, to whom otherwise it should be most welcome. And though men think that Christians have other things to look after, then the worshipping and serving of God: yet I say, in good advisedness,1 §Dthat if they could obtain this, to give God his due daily with all good conscience, even this were the nearest way for them, to come by all things which they have need of in this world, as our Saviour saith:2 First seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And therefore I have written this treatise particularly of the daily directing of the people of God, who have already consecrated and given over themselves unto his service, that it may put them in mind, that this their covenant with God is to be renewed daily, and their best care to please him, that ever they had, even their first love, to be still continued, and that they must daily abide in his love. And in a word,3 the rules which I have before set down for the keeping of the heart in good §Eplight and order, one day as well as another, and so consequently the life; must from day to day be above all other things looked to and regarded: whereas otherwise there are things innumerable, as trains and snares laid by the devil, to deceive, distract, and unsettle them, and so they shall find it a hard and wearisome work to return again. And if any see ought in this which I say, fit to benefit him, let him be careful to help on others.
Which, how common soeuer it be to be found almost in euery place where God hath any Church, yet we must not thinke, that it can be no otherwise: as though common Christians were not able to reach and attaine to any daily seruing of God ioyfully, if diligence were vsed in beating things into them oft: (for both we may find here and there some few, who do happily inioy that care and liberty daily: and also many mone and long for it at first, when they haue but a dim sight & small tast of it) but they are not trained to it, nor furthered in it, to whom otherwise it should be most welcome. And though men thinke that Christians haue other things to looke after, then the worshipping and seruing of God: yet I say, in good aduisednesse,1 §Dtha if they could obtaine this, to giue God his due daily with all good conscience, euen this were the nearest way for them, to come by all things which they haue need of in this world, as our Sauiour saith:2 First seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse. And therefore I haue written this treatise particularly of the daily directing of the people of God, who haue already consecrated and giuen ouer themselues vnto his seruice, that it may put them in mind, that this their couenant with God is to be renewed daily, and their best care to please him, that euer they had, euen their first loue, to be still continued, and that they must daily abide in his loue. And in a word,3 the rules which I haue before set downe for the keeping of the heart in good §Eplight and order, one day as well as another, and so consequently the life; must from day to day be aboue all other things looked to and regarded: whereas otherwise there are things innumerable, as traines and snares layd by the diuell, to deceiue, distract, and vnsettle them, and so they shall find it a hard and wearisome worke to returne againe. And if any see ought in this which I say, fit to benefite him, let him be carefull to helpe on others.
- 1Note.
- 2Math 6.33.
- 3Joh 15.10.Ioh 15.10.
