Secondly, this daily practice of all Christian duties, in the whole course of our lives, and in every particular action of them, may be enforced with these reasons; first, because the Lord hath created and redeemed, and doth continually preserve us to this end, that we should spend our whole lives in his service, by performing the duties of holiness and righteousness; and not some part only, reserving the rest for the service of the world, and the satisfying of our carnal lusts. Secondly, he giveth unto us the continual wages of his blessings and benefits for the present, and hath promised to give unto us the everlasting reward of heavenly happiness in the life to come, not that we should do our own wills and works, much less of his professed enemies, but that we approve our selves and our service unto him in all things, who hath given unto us this rich wages; and chiefly respect his glory in whatsoever we do, either in his immediate service, or in performing the duties which he hath commanded us towards our neighbours and our own persons; seeing we are bought at an high 1price, that we might no longer be our own, but his, and glorify him both in our souls and body, by offering unto him that service which he requireth. Thirdly, seeing it is the best wisdom to employ all and every of our actions to the best purpose, and no time is so well employed as in Gods service, whether we respect God our chief Goodness, to whose glory all 2should tend, as unto their supreme end, or our own salvation, which by this and no other means can be assured unto us; and contrariwise, the greatest folly to spend our lives or any part of them in vain, to no purpose or profit, as all that time is, which is not taken up in Gods service, by performing some duty of piety, righteousness, or sobriety, seeing those main ends, at which we ought in all things to aim, namely, Gods glory in our own salvation, are not hereby advanced and furthered, but crossed and hindered. Fourthly, to be daily exercised in Christian duties, is the best means to keep our souls in good plight and state, by nourishing in them all saving graces; for as it is not enough to keep our bodies in a good case and habitude, that we preserve the vigour and strength of them, by seasonable and convenient food, unless we also digest it, ⟨p. 167⟩and confirm our strength by fit exercise;
Secondly, this daily practice of all Christian duties, in the whole course of our liues, and in euery particular action of them, may be inforced with these reasons; first, because the Lord hath created and redeemed, and doth continually preserue vs to this end, that we should spend our whole liues in his seruice, by performing the duties of holinesse and righteousnesse; and not some part onely, reseruing the rest for the seruice of the world, and the satisfying of our carnall lusts. Secondly, he giueth vnto vs the continuall wages of his blessings and benefits for the present, and hath promised to giue vnto vs the euerlasting reward of heauenly happinesse in the life to come, not that we should doe our owne wills and workes, much lesse of his professed enemies, but that wee approoue our selues and our seruice vnto him in all things, who hath giuen vnto vs this rich wages; and chiefly respect his glory in whatsoeuer we doe, either in his immediate seruice, or in performing the duties which he hath commanded vs towards our neighbours and our owne persons; seeing wee are bought at an high 1price, that we might no longer be our owne, but his, and glorifie him both in our soules and body, by offering vnto him that seruice which he requireth. Thirdly, seeing it is the best wisedome to imploy all and euery of our actions to the best purpose, and no time is so well imployed as in Gods seruice, whether we respect God our chiefe Goodnesse, to whose glory all 2should tend, as vnto their supreme end, or our owne saluation, which by this and no other meanes can be assured vnto vs; and contrariwise, the greatest folly to spend our liues or any part of them in vaine, to no purpose or profit, as all that time is, which is not taken vp in Gods seruice, by performing some duty of piety, righteousnesse, or sobriety, seeing those maine ends, at which we ought in all things to aime, namely, Gods glory in our owne saluation, are not hereby aduanced and furthered, but crossed and hindred. Fourthly, to be daily exercised in Christian duties, is the best meanes to keepe our soules in good plight and state, by nourishing in them all sauing graces; for as it is not enough to keepe our bodies in a good case and habitude, that we preserue the vigour and strength of them, by seasonable and conuenient foode, vnlesse wee also digest it, ⟨p. 167⟩and confirme our strength by fit exercise;
- 11. Cor. 6. 20. Rom. 12. 1.
- 2Matth. 5. 16. 2. Pet. 1. 10.
