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 this holy resolution of cleaving unto God, and pleasing him in all things, is most necessary unto a godly life; first, because it is the foundation and ground of all other duties, which whilst it remaineth firm, there is good hope, though the rest of the building be shrewdly shaken with the blasts and storms of trials and tentations, and much failing and frailty be showed in many outward actions; seeing so long as the foundation remaineth, the decayed parts of the house may be repaired with more ease; but if our resolution be unsettled and weak, the whole frame that resteth upon it, will fall with it own weight; and the duties themselves of a godly life, will seem irksome and tedious. It is the very soul which giveth life and motion to all our actions, and in what case it is, in such are they; if strong, then are they strong, if weak, then they weak also. If it be faint, then they languish; If full of virtue and vigour, then are they also vigorous and courageous. Secondly, because it is a main and principal part of true repentance, which chiefly consisteth in the full purpose of the heart, the inclination and resolution of the will, and the constant endeavour in our whole lives, to forsake all evil, and embrace all good, and in all things both inwardly and outwardly to please God, by performing unto him that acceptable service, which in his Word he requireth of us. Thirdly, because this purpose of heart, and resolution of our wills, to serve and please God, doth make both our persons and actions acceptable unto him; for he chiefly requireth the service of our hearts, as being the fountain of all our actions, and respecteth not so much our deeds as our will; not the perfection of our actions, as the sincerity of our affections; according to that of the Apostle; If there be a willing mind, a man is accepted,