A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

The properties which respect the whole man, are two; diligence and constancy. By diligence, I understand that sedulity and assiduity, industry and labour, which we are content to use and take for the compassing and obtaining, effecting and achieving of those things whereupon we have set our hearts and affections. The which property doth always accompany the duties of a godly life, if we rightly perform them as God requireth of us; and is an inseparable fruit of those which went before. For when we perform them with alacrity and cheerfulness, and do esteem them our chief delight, then are we not only in our hearts zealously affected towards them, but so industrious and diligent in pursuing of them, that we think no pains or labour too much, that we may bring them to good effect. And then shaking off all natural sloth and sluggishness, all idleness and unprofitableness, we will set our selves close to our Christian task, and perform those religious duties, and that holy and spiritual service which our heavenly Lord and Master requireth of us. The which diligence we will show, not in doing some or many duties, neglecting the rest, using our industry and labour about one, as a veil to cover our sloth in omitting another, but in the general performance of all and every of those Christian duties which God in his Word imposeth upon us; and like the good Widow described by the Apostle, we will diligently follow every good work; yea, we must approve our diligence, not only ¹in performing those good duties which offer themselves unto us, but in seeking all good occasions and opportunities of this Christian employment, that we may not stand idle, and be unprofitable for want of work, which indeed is never wanting, if we want not eyes to see it, and hearts to undertake it in due time. Neither must our diligence and laborious endeavours be only spent in the duties themselves, but also about the means whereby we may be enabled to perform them. For in vain he pretendeth diligence in attaining to the end, who neglecteth the means which conduce unto it, seeing the means and end do inseparably go together.

THe properties which respect the whole man, are two; diligence and constancie. By diligence, I vnderstand that sedulity and assiduitie, industry and labour, which wee are content to vse and take for the compassing and obtaining, effecting and atchieuing of those things whereupon wee haue set our hearts and affections. The which property doth alwayes accompany the duties of a godly life, if we rightly performe them as God requireth of vs; and is an inseparable fruit of those which went before. For when wee performe them with alacrity and cheerefulnesse, and doe esteeme them our chiefe delight, then are wee not onely in our hearts zealously affected towards them, but so industrious and diligent in pursuing of them, that we thinke no paines or labour too much, that we may bring them to good effect. And then shaking off all naturall sloth and sluggishnesse, all idlenesse and vnprofitablenesse, wee will set our selues close to our Christian taske, and performe those religious duties, and that holy and spirituall seruice which our heauenly Lord and Master requireth of vs. The which diligence we will shew, not in doing some or many duties, neglecting the rest, vsing our industry and labour about one, as a vaile to couer our sloth in omitting another, but in the generall performance of all and euery of those Christian duties which God in his Word imposeth vpon vs; and like the good Widdow described by the Apostle, wee will diligently follow euery good worke; yea, wee must approoue our diligence, not onely