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

By all which it appeareth, that the Christian watchfulness which is commended unto us in the Scriptures, is not bodily and natural, but supernatural and spiritual. Now let us consider in the next place what it is, and wherein it consisteth. Concerning the former: The Christian and spiritual watch, is an heedful observation of our selves in all things, and a serious, careful, and diligent circumspection over all our ways, that we may please God by doing his will, and neither commit any sin which he hath forbidden, nor omit any duty which he hath commanded. The which description setteth forth unto us the nature of the Christian watch, as it is commended unto us in the holy Scriptures. Thus the Lord enjoining this watch by Moses the Captain of his people, saith; Take heed to thy self, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget ¹the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thine heart, all the days of thy life. And our Saviour prescribing it, doeth express it in these words, Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when ²the time is; watch ye therefore, lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. So the Apostle expoundeth that phrase, of awaking out of sleep, and arising ³from the dead, in the next words; See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. And exhorting the Watch-men of the Church, to keep diligently this watch, he willeth them to take heed unto themselves, and to all the flock, over which,