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

§. Sect. 8 That we must take heed, lest daily use of Christian duties make us cold and formal in them.

§. Sect. 8 That we must take heed, lest daily vse of Christian duties make vs cold and formall in them.

The fifth rule is, that we carefully take heed, that through the daily use of Christian and religious duties, they do not become cold and formal, and performed, rather for custom then conscience sake, doing them still, because we have long done them, rather then out of a lively sense of their profit and necessity; like those who go to feed, not because they have any appetite to their meat, but because it is dinner time; and betake themselves to rest, not in regard that they find themselves sleepy, but because their ordinary time is come of going to bed. But let the same causes which moved us first to undertake them, move us still to continue in them, namely, the love of God, and obedience to his Commandments; an earnest desire to glorify him, by doing the duties of his service, and so to carry our selves, as that we may please him in all things, and have both our persons and actions accepted of him, that we may hereby adorn our profession, edify our brethren by our good example, be more and more enriched with all sanctifying and saving graces, strengthened to all good duties, and so more and more assured of our own salvation. For if we be not still moved by these causes and considerations, to perform the duties of Gods service; but do them in an ordinary course, and never think why, nor to what end, we shall soon grow cold and formal, serving God after such careless and negligent manner, as that neither we nor our service shall be accepted of him.

The fifth rule is, that wee carefully take heed, that through the daily vse of Christian and religious duties, they doe not become cold and formall, and performed, rather for custome then conscience sake, doing them still, because wee haue long done them, rather then out of a liuely sense of their profit and necessity; like those who goe to feed, not because they haue any appetite to their meate, but because it is dinner time; and betake themselues to rest, not in regard that they finde themselues sleepy, but because their ordinary time is come of going to bed. But let the same causes which mooued vs first to vndertake them, mooue vs still to continue in them, namely, the loue of God, and obedience to his Commandements; an earnest desire to glorifie him, by doing the duties of his seruice, and so to carry our selues, as that wee may please him in all things, and haue both our persons and actions accepted of him, that wee may heereby adorne our profession, edifie our brethren by our good example, bee more and more inriched with all sanctifying and sauing graces, strengthened to all good duties, and so more and more assured of our owne saluation. For if wee bee not still mooued by these causes and considerations, to performe the duties of Gods seruice; but doe them in an ordinary course, and neuer thinke why, nor to what end, we shall soone grow cold and formall, seruing God after such carelesse and negligent manner, as that neither wee nor our seruice shall bee accepted of him.