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

Besides which duties which we owe to our neighbours, there are divers others required in this Commandment, which are to be performed to our selves, for the good, preservation, and defence of our persons and lives, and especially for the salvation of our souls. In respect of our bodies and lives here is required, that we use all good and lawful means ¹whereby our health may be preserved, as temperance and sobriety in diet, moderate sleep and labour, honest and moderate recreations of body and mind, cheerfulness and honest joy, rejoicing in the fruition of ⟨p. 154⟩Gods blessings; or if it be lost and impaired, whereby we may recover it, as good diet, physic, &c. Secondly, that we by all good and lawful means preserve our safety, by avoiding unnecessary dangers, or recover ²our selves out of them, if we be fallen into them; by repelling gross injuries, and avoiding causeless quarrels, and all other means, whereby our lives are needlessly hazarded. But above all, here is required, that we earnestly endeavour in the use of all good means which may further the salvation of our souls, and avoid the contrary whereby it may be hindered. The which must not be delayed, nor posted off from time to time, as it is the practice of those, who from day to day defer their repentance; but we must first seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, both