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

We do not approve our sincerity in remitting injuries, by our readiness to perform all good duties to those who have offended us, and by overcoming evil with goodness. We are too apt to take notice of every injury, and do not pass by offences, approving our wisdom, by our slowness to anger; and our love, by covering a multitude of sins, but are apt to retain anger, and to seek revenge when we are wronged. We do not as we should, resist the tentations of the flesh, world, and devil, but though we pray against them, yet upon every slight occasion we run into them, and are easily enticed to fall into sin, and to forfeit that liberty which Christ hath purchased for us. We live securely, as if we were free from all danger of enemies, and do not duly consider their malice and subtlety, our own weakness, and their power, that we might be moved hereby to pray with more fervency to be freed from tentations, or for thy assistance, that we might overcome them, and be delivered from all evil: whereof it cometh to pass that we are often foiled by them, and led captive unto sin. We are not daily prepared against the time of tentation, nor keep the Christian Armour fast buckled unto us, that we might be able to resist our enemies. We do not watchfully ⟨p. 886⟩avoid the occasions of evil, nor carefully observe our hearts and senses, keeping them under Covenant, that they may not rove after worldly vanities, which are the usual occasions whereby we are plunged into all evil. But we beseech thee, good Lord, to be gracious unto us, in the forgiveness of all our sins, and wash them away in the precious Blood of Jesus Christ, that they may never be imputed unto us, nor bring upon us that wrath which they have deserved. Yea, Lord, we beseech thee for Christs sake, not only free us from deserved punishments, but being reconciled unto us in thy Son, multiply thy favours and blessings upon us in all things pertaining to grace and godliness, glory and happiness. Persuade us by thy Spirit and a lively faith, that thou art in Christ, our Father, and we thy children by adoption and grace. Let us ever love and fear thee, as our gracious Father, perform unto thee the obedience of children, and labour to resemble thee in wisdom, holiness, and righteousness, that so we may walk worthy this high calling whereunto thou hast called us.

We doe not approoue our sincerity in remitting iniuries, by our readinesse to performe all good duties to those who haue offended vs, and by ouercomming euill with goodnesse. We are too apt to take notice of euery iniury, and doe not passe by offences, approouing our wisedome, by our slownesse to anger; and our loue, by couering a multitude of sinnes, but are apt to retaine anger, and to seeke reuenge when we are wronged. We doe not as we should, resist the tentations of the flesh, world, and deuill, but though we pray against them, yet vpon euery slight occasion we run into them, and are easily inticed to fall into sinne, and to forfeit that liberty which Christ hath purchased for vs. We liue securely, as if we were free from all danger of enemies, and doe not duely consider their malice and subtilty, our owne weakenesse, and their power, that we might be mooued heereby to pray with more feruency to bee freed from tentations, or for thy assistance, that we might ouercome them, and be deliuered from all euill: whereof it commeth to passe that we are often foyled by them, and led captiue vnto sinne. Wee are not daily prepared against the time of tentation, nor keepe the Christian Armour fast buckled vnto vs, that we might be able to resist our enemies. Wee doe not watchfully