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

§. Sect. 4 That we must embrace all virtues and Christian duties.

§. Sect. 4 That wee must imbrace all vertues and Christian duties.

And as we are thus daily to arm our selves against sin; so are we constantly and continually to desire and resolve in our hearts, that we will embrace all virtue, and perform all Christian duties, both unto God, our neighbours and our selves, throughout the whole day, not thinking any grace or good duty so small, that it may be neglected, or so difficult and of such an high nature, that it may not be attempted and sought after. Neither must we content our selves to take the occasions of well-doing, when they are offered & thrust upon us, but we must exercise our minds, by studying and advising how we may get & gain the best opportunities of doing most good, both for the advancement of Gods glory, and our own and our neighbours good. But especially we must set our selves with most earnest study, and serious diligence to attain unto, and adorn our souls with those graces, wherein they are most defective, and to perform those duties which our consciences tell us that we have in time past most neglected, not because they were in their own nature less excellent, profitable, or necessary (for so when time and opportunity will not suffer us to perform all, we may omit lawfully those duties which are of least use and importance) but because our corrupt natures being most averse unto them, we find them most difficult and unpleasant unto us. For so shall we receive a double benefit, not only doing that which is good, but also in doing it, profit daily in the denying of our selves and our own wills, in the mortifying of our corrupt nature, in that wherein it is most strong and rebellious, and in strengthening our regenerate part and new man, in that wherein it is most weak and defective. And if we would thus daily enlarge our desires, and strengthen our resolutions, to the embracing and practising of all virtuous actions and good duties, we should receive singular profit by it. For we should not so easily as we do, let slip the occasions of well doing, but take hold of the opportunity when it is offered; we should not be so faint-hearted, and weak-handed in good duties, nor so easily daunted and discouraged in them, but should become strong and valorous, if we would thus daily confirm and strengthen our hearts and hands, by these good resolutions, that we will let pass no opportunity of performing those Christian duties which God requireth of us.