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

Yea, Lord, since the time that thou hast, through thy mighty power, and of thy mere grace, quickened and raised me from this death of sin, how have I, like Lazarus, come out of the grave bound hand and foot, and still so fettered and hampered with the relics of my corruptions, that I walk slowly and lamely in the ways of thy Commandments, oftentimes neglecting, upon every slight occasion, the duties of holiness and righteousness, and oftentimes performing them with such weakness and imperfection, as it is hard to say whether they were not better undone, then so done? O how often do I forget even the main end for which I live, namely, that by glorifying thee I may live eternally; and as though I were a citizen of the earth, how have I my conversation here, spending my thoughts and strength about worldly vanities which profit not, and not so much as minding spiritual and heavenly things! How slowly (alas) do I come to the duties of thy service, who art so infinitely bountiful in thy rewards! How coldly & carelessly, how dully & drowsily, how irreverently and negligently do I perform them! How soon am I weary of these holy exercises, and desire to return to my worldly employments! How little sweetness doth my aguish taste feel in thy ⟨p. 983⟩love, though it be better then wine, and in feeding upon thy spiritual delicacies in thy banqueting-house, thy Word and Sacraments? How little delight have I had in thy Sanctuary and Sabbaths, and how have I consecrated the least part of them as an holy Rest unto thee, and misspent the greatest part in thinking mine own thoughts, in thinking mine own words, and doing mine own works? How much and often have I abused thine holy ordinances, through my worldliness and profaneness, and after that I have long enjoyed them, how little have I profited by them? Mine heart is still full of gross infidelity, which is the cause that I am not much raised and comforted with thy sweet promises, nor dejected and humbled with thy terrible threatenings. It is full of impenitency, being unapt to mourn for sins past, or to resolve upon amendment for the time to come.

Yea, Lord, since the time that thou hast, through thy mighty power, and of thy mere grace, quickned and raysed me from this death of sinne, how haue I, like Lazarus, come out of the graue bound hand and foote, and still so fettred and hampred with the relikes of my corruptions, that I walke slowly and lamely in the wayes of thy Commandements, oftentimes neglecting, vpon euery slight occasion, the duties of holinesse and righteousnesse, and oftentimes performing them with such weakenesse and imperfection, as it is hard to say whether they were not better vndon, then so done? O how often doe I forget euen the mayne end for which I liue, namely, that by glorifying thee I may liue eternally; and as though I were a citizen of the earth, how haue I my conuersation here, spending my thoughts and strength about worldly vanities which profit not, and not so much as minding spirituall and heauenly things! How slowly (alas) do I come to the duties of thy seruice, who art so infinitely bountifull in thy rewards! How coldly & carelesly, how dully & drowzily, how irreuerently and negligently do I performe them! How soone am I weary of these holy exercises, and desire to returne to my worldly imployments! How little sweetnesse doth my aguish taste feele in thy