Chapter 2

CAP. II.

Containing the definition of a godly life, whereby we may know what it is, and wherein it consisteth.

§. Sect. 1 What a godly life is, both according to the Law, and also Gospel.

Now that we may more orderly proceed in handling of this Argument, I will first show what this godly life is, and what the duties are, which principally are required unto it; and then propound the helps and means, whereby we may be persuaded to enter into this Christian course, and enabled to proceed in it conscionably and cheerfully. And first, if we define it in that legal perfection which God requireth: this godly life is an absolute conformity of all our actions, and whole conversation, unto the will of God, which is the perfect rule of holiness and righteousness, as it is revealed unto us in his Word, especially in the Decalogue or ten Commandments, unto which we cannot attain in this state of corruption and imperfection, seeing we are not perfectly regenerate, but are partly flesh, and partly Spirit, and have the relics of sin remaining in us, which as an heavy burden presseth us down in this way, and like fetters on our legs, ¹so hindereth us, that we can but slowly and lamely proceed in our spiritual journey: as we may see in the example of the Apostle, who professeth that he could not do the good which he would, but the evil which he would not; ²and that whilst he was delighted in the Law of God, he found another law in his members warring against the law of his mind, and leading him captive to the law of sin. Notwithstanding we are to walk by this rule, and in our desire and endeavour (as it were with an holy ambition) to aspire unto it; and though we cannot reach unto this Sun of perfection, yet we must choose it for our mark, and shoot towards it as high as we can, and be sorry and ashamed in our selves, that we can shoot no higher; of which, we have the holy Apostle as a pattern for our imitation, who forgetting those things