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. 9 That worldlings take more pains about earthly vanities, and in the service of sin and Satan, then is required to a godly life.

§. Sect. 9 That worldlings take more paines about earthly vanities, and in the seruice of sinne and Satan, then is required to a godly life.

Now if any, notwithstanding of all these helps and comforts, still complain of the difficulties which he findeth in the course of Christianity, ¹and use it as an excuse for his neglect of all the duties of a godly life; let such a man know, that the fault is not in the hardness and crookedness of the way, but in his own negligence, who will not use the means which God offereth unto him for the overcoming of these difficulties, and neither take any pains to be truly informed, nor to travel in it after he knoweth it. For because they are lazy, and have no list to work; therefore they sit in the house and complain, that there is a Lion in the way, a Lion in the streets. Because they would sit still by the flesh-pots of Egypt, and glut themselves with carnal pleasures, therefore they cavil against their entering into, and proceeding in that way which leadeth to the holy Land, as though the difficulties were so many and great which affront us in it, that it is unpassible and impossible to be travelled by them. Their affections are so strong, that they cannot master and mortify them; their bodies tender and delicate, and not inured to take that pains which is required to the well performing of Christian duties, and their natures are so easy and flexible, that they cannot withstand the allurements and importunity of their old companions, drawing and persuading them to accompany them in their sinful courses. All which excuses, what do they argue but their sloth and negligence; yea rather, their want of love, and contempt of spiritual grace and heavenly glory? Seeing the same men