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

And therefore when we go about the reformation of our lives, let us first begin with he purging of our hearts, and offer them unto God, as a ¹free-will offering, and the first fruits of our new obedience, if we mean to have a good crop of godliness, and the whole harvest sanctified to our use. And this was Davids practice, watching chiefly over his heart, that he might consecrate it, above all other parts, to the Service of God. I delight (saith he) to do thy will, O my God, yea thy Law is within my heart. And again, I have inclined mine heart to perform thy Statutes alway even unto the end. My soul hath kept thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. So Moses prayeth unto God, in behalf of himself and the people, Teach us so to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Neither is it sufficient, either to please God, or to attain unto sanctification and a godly life, to consecrate our hearts in part only unto Gods service, and to reserve part for the service of the world. For we cannot serve two masters so contrary in disposition, nor at once please God and Mammon, as our Saviour hath taught us. We must not halt between two opinions, but if God be God, we must serve him: If Baal be God, we must serve him. God ²is a jealous lover, and will endure no corrivals in the heart, which above all parts he chiefly loveth. And therefore if we intend to lead a godly life, and to please God in all our courses, we must set our whole hearts to seek and serve him, and as he requireth, love him with all our heart, and