Unto a godly life therefore it is required, that we hate and forsake all evil, and that we embrace and practise that which is good; that is, that we abhor and renounce sin in all kinds, without exception, and those most of all, which whilst we lived in the state of infidelity, we most loved, and to which, as yet our corrupt nature most inclineth, seeing they are our greatest and most dangerous enemies, & like traitorous Rebels, raising intestine war within us, do as much as in them lieth, expose us to the malice of our open enemies, the devil and the world. In which total relinquishing of sin, we must be constant in our resolutions and endeavours, and not do it by fits and flashes, as we shall see hereafter. And with the like constancy, we are to settle our selves, in embracing and practising all good duties, whether they be hard or easy, pleasant or displeasant, profitable to our worldly estate, or to our loss and hinderance. Now, because the Word and revealed will of God is the rule and squire, according to which, we are to judge of good and evil, that being good which it commandeth, and evil which it forbiddeth; therefore a godly life consists in our conformity & obedience to Gods will revealed in his Word, or to all Gods Commandments contained both in the Law and Gospel. For because we cannot perform obedience to the Law legally, that is, in that perfection which the Law requireth, therefore a godly life is not, as we understand it in this Treatise, an absolute conformity unto the Law (though it be most absolute when it is most conformable) but when we conform our selves and all our actions, according to the rule of the Law, after an Evangelical manner, that is, desire, resolve, and endeavour to perform ⟨p. 94⟩unto it as perfect obedience as we can, which because through our frailty and corruption it is defective, and nothing imperfect can be acceptable unto God, therefore unto such a godly life as may be pleasing unto him, there is required, that to our obedience of the Law, we add our obedience to the Gospel, which requireth a lively faith in Christ, whereby applying unto our selves both him and all his benefits, the imperfections of our obedience are covered with his perfect righteousness, and our sins and corruptions washed away in his blood.
Vnto a godly life therefore it is required, that wee hate and forsake all euill, and that we imbrace and practise that which is good; that is, that we abhorre and renounce sinne in all kindes, without exception, and those most of all, which whilest we liued in the state of infidelity, we most loued, and to which, as yet our corrupt nature most inclineth, seeing they are our greatest and most dangerous enemies, & like traytrous Rebels, raising intestine warre within vs, doe as much as in them lyeth, expose vs to the malice of our open enemies, the deuill and the world. In which totall relinquishing of sinne, we must bee constant in our resolutions and indeuours, and not doe it by fits and flashes, as wee shall see heereafter. And with the like constancie, we are to settle our selues, in imbracing and practising all good duties, whether they be hard or easie, pleasant or displeasant, profitable to our worldly estate, or to our losse and hinderance. Now, because the Word and reuealed will of God is the rule and squire, according to which, we are to iudge of good and euill, that being good which it commandeth, and euill which it forbiddeth; therefore a godly life consists in our conformitie & obedience to Gods will reuealed in his Word, or to all Gods Commandements contained both in the Law and Gospell. For because we cannot performe obedience to the Law legally, that is, in that perfection which the Law requireth, therefore a godly life is not, as wee vnderstand it in this Treatise, an absolute conformity vnto the Law (though it bee most absolute when it is most conformable) but when we conforme our selues and all our actions, according to the rule of the Law, after an Euangelicall manner, that is, desire, resolue, and indeuour to performe ⟨p. 94⟩vnto it as perfect obedience as we can, which because through our frailty and corruption it is defectiue, and nothing imperfect can be acceptable vnto God, therfore vnto such a godly life as may be pleasing vnto him, there is required, that to our obedience of the Law, we adde our obedience to the Gospel, which requireth a liuely faith in Christ, whereby applying vnto our selues both him and all his benefits, the imperfections of our obedience are couered with his perfect righteousnesse, and our sins and corruptions washed away in his blood.
