A Guide to Godliness, Book 4 · Chapter 7
CAP. VII.
Of the properties which reſpect the whole man: And firſt, diligence in all duties of Gods ſeruice.
§. Sect. 1 That this diligence muſt be vſed in all good duties, and about the meanes of them.
THe properties which reſpect the whole man, are two; diligence and conſtancie. By diligence, I vnderſtand that ſedulity and aſſiduitie, induſtry and labour, which wee are content to vſe and take for the compaſſing and obtaining, effecting and atchieuing of thoſe things whereupon wee hauehave ſet our hearts and affections. The which property doth alwayes accompany the duties of a godly life, if we rightly performe them as God requireth of vsus; and is an inſeparable fruit of thoſe which went before. For when wee performe them with alacrity and cheerefulneſſe, and doe eſteeme them our chiefe delight, then are wee not onelyonly in our hearts zealouſly affected towards them, but ſo induſtrious and diligent in purſuing of them, that we thinke no paines or labour too much, that we may bring them to good effect. And then ſhaking off all naturall ſloth and ſluggiſhneſſe, all idleneſſe and vnprofitableneſſe, wee will ſet our ſelues cloſe to our Chriſtian taske, and performe thoſe religious duties, and that holy and ſpirituall ſeruice which our heauenly Lord and Maſter requireth of vsus. The which diligence we will ſhew, not in doing ſome or many duties, neglecting the reſt, vſing our induſtry and labour about one, as a vaile to couer our ſloth in omitting another, but in the generall performance of all and eueryevery of thoſe Chriſtian duties which God in his Word impoſeth vponupon vsus; and like the good Widdow deſcribed by the Apoſtle, wee will diligently follow eueryevery good worke; yea, wee muſt approoue our diligence, not onelyonly 1. Tim. 5. 10.in performing thoſe good duties which offer themſelues vntounto vsus, but in ſeeking all good occaſions and opportunities of this Chriſtian imployment, that we may not ſtand idle, and be vnprofitable for want of worke, which indeed is neuer wanting, if we want not eyes to ſee it, and hearts to vndertake it in due time. Neither muſt our diligence and laborious indeuours bee onelyonly ſpent in the duties themſelues, but alſo about the meanes whereby wee may bee inabled to performe them. For in vaine hee pretendeth diligence in attaining to the end, who neglecteth the meanes which conduce vntounto it, ſeeing the meanes and end doe inſeparably goe together. And therefore as no man can bee truely ſaid to bee diligent in his iourney to a Cittie, who goeth not in the way that leadeth vntounto it, or in attaining to riches, who neglecteth the meanes whereby they are gotten, or in preſeruing of his life, who doeth not vſe the helpes of Phyſicke or diet, whereby it may be preſerued: ſo neither can any be diligent in the maine duties of a godly life, who ſheweth not the like induſtry and labour in the vſe of all good helpes and meanes, which by Gods Ordinance and appointment inable vsus vntounto them. Neither muſt wee content our ſelues with the vſe of ſome meanes, and neglect others, but we muſt ſhew and approoue our diligence, in vſing of all good helpes, which God hath giuen vsus, to further vsus in our Chriſtian courſe. And as for the preſeruing of our naturall life and ſtrength, we doe not eate alone, or ſleepe alone, or onelyonly keepe our ſelues warme, or vſe good exerciſe, & take profitable Phyſicke, but vſe all theſe meanes ioyntly in their fit ſeaſon; ſo ſeeing the Lord hath appointed vntounto vsus variety of good meanes, for the preſeruing of our ſpirituall life and growth in grace, as praying, hearing, receiuing the Sacrament, reading, conferring; wee muſt not thinke it enough, to pray, or heare, or reade, or to ſingle out vntounto our ſelues any other meanes vntounto which we hauehave beſt appetite, but wee muſt approoue our diligence in the ioynt vſing of them all in their due time. For as in nature God hath not ordained one thing as ſufficient for all purpoſes, but meate to feed vsus, and not to keepe vsus warme; clothes to couer vsus and hide our nakedneſſe, and not to nouriſh vsus; ſleepe and exerciſe to refreſh vsus, and the like: ſo alſo for the preſeruing of our ſpirituall life, it is not enough, that we vſe one of thoſe meanes whereof God hath giuen vsus great variety, ſeeing he hath not made any one of them ſufficient for all vſes, but will hauehave them ſeuerally vſed for their ſeuerall ends, and all ioyntly together, that we may be made perfect to eueryevery good worke. Yea, this diligence muſt ſhew it ſelfe, not onelyonly in the vſe of all the beſt and chiefe meanes, but alſo in wiſe obſeruing of all circumſtances, as time, place, perſon, and ſuch like, which may further vsus in the well performing all Chriſtian duties. Neither muſt we imploy our diligence and labour in ſuch meanes as are of our owne chuſing, and beſt fit our appetite, but in thoſe which God hath appointed and ſanctified for the better inabling vsus vntounto his ſeruice. For as it is not enough to be painefull in trauelling, vnleſſe we chuſe the right way which will bring vsus to our iourneys end, nor for the nouriſhing of our bodies, and preſeruing of our naturall ſtrength, that we may bee fit for all ciuill imployments, to eate any thing that commeth to hand, but only ſuch meates as God hath created for this vſe, and hath made them effectuall vntounto it, by his holy Ordinance and bleſſing vponupon it: ſo we muſt not chuſe wayes of our owne, if we will trauell to our heauenly home, but the right and ſtraight way, which God in his Word hath preſcribed vntounto vsus; we muſt not, for the nouriſhment of our ſoules, that they may be vigorous & ſtrong vntounto the duties of a godly life, chooſe food that fitteth our carnall appetite, as Images, Crucifixes, Pilgrimages, ſuperſtitious Penance, which torment the body, but doe not at all humble the proud fleſh: for theſe being not ordained of God, nor ſanctified to this vſe, but inuented and appointed by the skill and will of man, hauehave no more power or vertue to nouriſh the ſoule, or to ſtrengthen it to vertuous actions, then earth or chips hauehave to nouriſh the body. Neither muſt we ſpend our diligence in good meanes vnſeaſonably, out of their due time and place, as thoſe which are inferiour & leſſe powerful, when we may imploy our ſelues in thoſe which are ſuperior, and through Gods Ordinance more effectual. As in priuate exerciſes at home, when we ſhould ioyne with the Congregation in Gods publike ſeruice; reading a Sermon in our owne houſes, when wee ſhould heare the Word preached in the Houſe of God; for though it be a good exerciſe at another time, and though the Sermon which wee reade, may be as good or better then that which wee ſhould heare, yet cannot it bee ſo effectuall vntounto vsus, for the begetting and increaſing of our faith, and other ſauing graces (no more then Abana and 2. King. 5. 12.Pharpar for the clenſing of Naamans Leproſie, though as good waters as Iordan) becauſe God hath not ordained and ſanctified reading to bee ſo ordinary and effectuall a meanes for the begetting of his graces in vsus, as Rom. 10. 17.the Word preached, and the meanes themſelues hauehave no other vertue and vigour in them, but as they are his ordinances which are made effectuall by his bleſſing. Finally, as wee muſt vſe all diligence in all good meanes which may ſtrengthen vsus to Gods ſeruice, ſo alſo in ſhunning or remouing all lets and impediments, whereby wee may be hindred in holy duties, and the meanes become vneffectuall or leſſe powerfull to thoſe good ends for which we vſe them. For as he who would be rich, is not only diligent in all good meanes which may improue his ſtate, but alſo in ſhunning the contrary; as prodigality, exceſſe in diet and apparell, and the company of waſtfull and riotous perſons; and as hee who deſireth to preſerue his health, is not carefull alone to eate wholſome meate, but ſhunneth alſo the meanes with like care, which would hinder good concoction: ſo muſt we take the like courſe, if wee would thriue in our ſpirituall eſtate, and hauehave our ſoules healthy and ſtrong in ſauing grace, that they may bee fit and able for the well performance of all Chriſtian duties.
§. Sect. 2 Diuers reaſons which may moue vsus to diligence. Firſt, becauſe God requireth it.
And thus we ſee what diligence and labour wee are to vſe in leading a godly life. Let vsus now conſider of the reaſons and motiues which may Deut. 6. 17. Pſal. 119. 4. Ezra 7. 23.perſwade vsus hereunto. And firſt, this diligence muſt bee vſed in the duties of Gods ſeruice, becauſe God requireth it at our hands. You ſhall diligently keepe the Commandements of the Lord your God, and his teſtimonies and Statutes which he hath commanded thee. Of which Commandement Dauid taketh notice; Thou haſt (ſaith he) commanded vsus to keepe thy precepts diligently. And Ezra, like a good Gouernour, backeth it with all his authority: Whatſoeuer is commanded by the God of heauen, let it be diligently done, &c. VntoUnto this diligence the Apoſtle exhorteth, in whatſoeuer office or duty we vndertake, Rom. 12. 6, 7, 8.and contrariwiſe diſſwadeth from being ſlothfull in any buſines, verſ. 11.eſpecially in the ſeruice of God, vntounto which hee requireth feruency of ſpirit. More eſpecially, this diligence is required in all good meanes, whereby we may be inriched with all vertue and ſauing grace. So the Apoſtle Peter; Giuing all diligence, adde to your faith, vertue, and to vertue, knowledge, 2. Pet. 1. 5. verſ. 10.&c. and in getting thereby aſſurance of our ſaluation: GiueGive diligence to make your calling and Election ſure. And aboue all, in the religious duties of Gods ſeruice, according to that of our Sauiour; Take you heed, watch Mark. 13. 33.and pray. And of his holy Apoſtle: Pray continually; in eueryevery thing giuegive 1. Theſ. 5. 17. 18. 1. Cor. 15. 10.thankes: and againe, Continue in prayer, and watch in the ſame with thankesgiuing. Of which laborious diligence and vnwearied induſtry, we hauehave them for examples of their owne precepts: For not onelyonly in the painfull labours of his Apoſtolike miniſtery, this holy Apoſtle exceeded all the reſt, but alſo in attaining vntounto ſpirituall graces, and in the exerciſe of a godly life: For forgetting thoſe which were behind, hee reached forth vntounto Phil. 3. 13. 14.thoſe things which were before, and preſſed towards the marke, for the price of the high calling of God in Ieſus Chriſt. But aboue all examples of this diligence is that of our Sauiour Chriſt, whoſe time was wholly imployed in the duties of Gods ſeruice, ſpending the day in preaching and working miracles, and the night in praying: yea with ſuch vnwearied diligence he performed theſe functions of his office, that the wearineſſe of his trauell could make him weary of theſe workes. Yea, hee preferred the doing of theſe duties before the ſatisfying of his hunger, and eſteemed it as his meate and drinke, to doe the workes of him that ſent him. Now as God requireth Ioh. 4. 34.this diligence and paines in all duties of his ſeruice, ſo doth hee much approue it whereſoeuer he finds it. As in the Angell of the Church of Epheſus, I know thy workes, and thy labour, and thy patience: And in the Apoc. 2. 2.ſeruant who had well imployed his Maſters Talents; Well done, good and Math. 25. 21, 26faithfull ſeruant, &c. So doth he much abhorre ſloth and negligence in his ſeruice, as appeareth in his ſharpe reproofe of the vnprofitable ſeruant, who had hid his Lords Talent in a napkin; Thou wicked and ſlothfull ſeruant, &c. branding him with the name of wickedneſſe, becauſe of his ſlothfulneſſe, and not becauſe he had riotouſly miſpent his Talent, or ſpoyled his fellowes of thoſe Talents which were committed vntounto them, but becauſe through his idleneſſe and negligence he had been vnprofitable to his Maſter.
§ Sect. 3 Of the rewards promiſed to the diligent.
Secondly, the manifold and great benefits, wherewith the Lord, rich in mercy towards all who diligently ſerue him, will liberally reward their labours, may ſerue as an effectuall reaſon to incite vsus to this duty. For wee cannot ſerue a more bountifull Maſter, nor imploy our labours to better aduantage, then in performing vntounto him our duty with all diligence, ſeeing he will ſuffer none of our paines to be ſpent in vaine, but will proportion our wages according to the greatneſſe of our worke. In this life hee beſtoweth vponupon thoſe who are diligent in the duties of his ſeruice, not onelyonly a large meaſure of his temporall benefits, and his bleſſing vponupon them, whereby they become truly profitable for their vſe, according to thoſe many and gracious promiſes which in his Law he hath made vntounto Deut. 28. 1, 2. &c.them, but alſo inricheth their ſoules with the treaſures of his ſpirituall graces. For we can be no more ready to vſe the meanes, then the Lord is to giuegive his bleſſing vponupon them, whereby they become effectuall vntounto thoſe ends for which we vſe them. Neither is hee euer in this kind wanting to any, who are not through their negligence wanting vntounto themſelues. In which regard that may be truly ſaid of our ſpirituall eſtate, which is ſpoken of our temporall: He becommeth poore that dealeth with a ſlacke hand; Prou. 10. 4.but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. Hereby alſo we attaine vntounto the aſſurance of our Election and effectuall calling, which is no otherwiſe to be had, then by this diligence in labouring after it, as the Apoſtle implyeth in thoſe words; Brethren, giuegive diligence to make your calling and election 2. Pet. 1. 10.ſure; and that we ſhall perſeuere in the ſtate of grace vntounto ſaluation; for if we giuegive all diligence in adding one grace and vertue vntounto another, the ſame Apoſtle aſſureth vsus, that we ſhall neuer fall. And the Apoſtle in the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes, remembring the workes of piety and mercy which had been performed by ſome of the faithfull, deſireth others to ſhew Heb. 6. 11, 11.the ſame diligence, to their full aſſurance of hope vntounto the end, and that they would not be ſlothfull, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherited the promiſes.
§. Sect. 4 That this diligence in all Chriſtian duties is in many reſpects moſt neceſſary.
Thirdly, the neceſſity of this diligence in holy duties may mooue vsus to imbrace and vſe it. For if in ciuill and worldly things no great matter is atchieued without paines and diligence, how much leſſe in ſpirituall and heauenly, which are ſo high aboue our reach, ſo excellent aboue all other things, and ſo contrary to our corrupt nature and diſpoſition. And if no man can reaſonably hope to attaine vntounto riches of his owne purchaſe, who gathereth with one hand, and ſcattereth with the other, or playeth the good husband at ſome times, and at another neglecteth his buſineſſe, and waſtfully miſpendeth his time and ſubſtance; nor vntounto any great learning, if he be ſlothfull and negligent in his ſtudies; or to get the glory of famous victories and glorious triumphs, if hee lye idly in the Gariſon, and neuer exerciſe himſelfe in feats of armes, nor make any attempt againſt his enemies; but all theſe things muſt be purchaſed and atchieued by labour and diligence: then how ſhall wee thinke euer to inrich our ſoules with the vnvaluable treaſures of Gods graces, to attaine vntounto that high and ſupernaturall learning, which teacheth vntounto vsus the knowledge of God, and of our ſelues, our Sauiour Chriſt and his will and truth, or to get the victory ouer the ſpirituall enemies of our ſaluation, which ſhall be rewarded with a Crowne of glory and triumph, ſeeing they are ſo many, mighty, and malicious; if we doe not ſhake off all ſloth, and with all ſtudy and diligence vſe all good meanes whereby wee may ouercome all difficulties, and compaſſe theſe things ſo much to be deſired, and ſo hardly obtained? Neither muſt we thinke it an eaſie matter to ſerue the Lord in the duties of a godly life, and ſo ſlight it ouer as requiring no paines; ſeeing they are things of ſuch high excellency, that they are farre aboue our naturall reach; and ſeeing alſo wee cannot proceed in them, but againſt the violent ſtreames of mighty oppoſition. For the ſpirituall enemies of our ſaluation are alwayes ready to ſtop and hinder vsus in our courſe of Chriſtianity, and we wreſtle not againſt fleſh and blood, but againſt Epheſ. 6. 9.principalities and powers, and ſpirituall wickedneſſes in high places; who vſing all diligence to worke our deſtruction, by ſpoyling vsus of all Gods graces, and hindring vsus from doing any Chriſtian duty, it behoueth vsus with no leſſe diligence to preuent their malice. Our arch-enemy, Satan, neuer reſteth, but like a roring Lion, rangeth ſtill about, ſeeking to deuoure vsus: and how 1. Pet. 5. 8.then doth it beſeeme vsus to ſtand continually vponupon our gard, and as the Apoſtle Peter exhorteth vsus, to watch, and to be ſober? The world is euer forward to allure vsus vntounto wickednes, by euill perſwaſions, and bad examples, or to thruſt vsus into it by threats and violent courſes; and what diligence then becommeth vsus to vſe in eſcaping theſe ſnares, and preſeruing our ſelues from falling in theſe tentations? But eſpecially our ſelues are greateſt and moſt dangerous enemies vntounto our ſelues, nouriſhing in our owne boſome ſuch natural corruptiō, as maketh vsus moſt auerſe vntounto all good duties, and headlongly prone vntounto all ſins; what diligence therefore ſhould we vſe in ſubduing the ſtrength, & defeating the wiles of this ſecret traytor, that lyeth ſtill lurking in vsus, ſeeking all aduantages to hinder vsus in all Chriſtian exerciſes, and to betray our ſoules as captiues vntounto Satan, by drawing them into ſinne? Through this corruption of nature wee are backward vntounto all good duties, and in our courſe of Chriſtianity, doe (as it were) row againſt the ſtreame. No longer can wee goe forward, then we ply the oare with all diligence & indeuor, & no ſooner giuegive our ſelues to eaſe, and remit our labor, but we are carryed back againe with the wind and tide of our carnall corruptions. We wreſtle with a cruell monſter, our own ſinful fleſh, againſt which we preuaile no longer then we ſqueeze and cruſh it with our ſpiritual gripes; for no ſooner do we ſurceaſe this holy violence againſt this corruptiō of our nature, but it recouereth (as it were) a new life, & with increaſed ſtrength, againe ſetteth vponupon vsus, putting vsus to a ſecond labour & danger for the obtaining of the victory; as we ſee in the example of Dauid, who euen after that hee had well profited in the practice of mortification, and gotten the victory ouer his ſinfull corruptions, by his earneſt indeuours in this ſpirituall exerciſe; intermitting for a while his wonted diligence, and giuing himſelfe to ſloth and eaſe, was ſhamefully foyled by his traiterous fleſh, and lamentably plunged into diuers fearfull ſinnes. Finally, by reaſon of our fall, that heauie curſe which was denounced againſt the earth, ſeazeth alſo vponupon our ſoules, which are barren in bearing any good fruits of holineſſe and righteouſnes, and naturally bring forth nothing but the thornes and thiſtles of ſinne and wickedneſſe, vnleſſe we ſpiritually manure them with all painfull diligence, and make them more fertile and fruitfull with the ſweat of our labours. Neither can we expect any harueſt of holy duties to ſpring out of ſuch barren ſoyles, vnleſſe we doe well husband them, and vſe all diligence in tilling and breaking vp theſe fallow grounds, in ſowing them with the good ſeed of heauenly doctrine, and in weeding out of them daily ſome vices and corruptions. Againe, this diligence is neceſſary; for as if it bee remitted, the ſtrength of ſinne continually increaſeth; ſo the graces of Gods Spirit, in reſpect of the vigour of their operations, do daily decreaſe and languiſh in vsus. For as to the welfare of our bodies it is neceſſarily required, that they be nouriſhed and ſuſtained by the ſame elements whereof they were firſt compoſed, which being but a while neglected, the ſpirits languiſh, the ſtrength is abated, and the whole body is infeebled and fainteth; ſo alſo is it no leſſe neceſſary that we vſe all diligence in nouriſhing Gods ſpirituall graces in vsus by the ſame meanes, whereby they were begun in vsus; as the Word, Sacraments, Prayer, and the reſt; for if wee doe not giuegive them continually this ſpirituall refection and refreſhing, they will ſoone abate of their ſtrength, wax faint and languiſh. Neither are theſe graces connaturall with vsus, or like plants thriuing and well-liking (euen when they are neglected) in their owne ſoyle, but like trees tranſplanted out of hot countries into ours, (as ſuppoſe the Orange, Lemon tree, or ſuch like) which need much tending; watring in the Summer, couering, and keeping warme in the Winter, that what is wanting in nature, may be ſupplied with art and diligence. They are like fire burning, not in its owne element, or in combuſtible matter, where it needs not labour to continue it; but in greene wood, which is ready eueryevery hand-while to goe out till it be thorowly kindled, vnleſſe we diligently blow it, and take great paines to make it burne. Whereof it is, that the Apoſtle vſing this metaphor, exhorteth Timothy, to ſtirre vp and relieue Gods gifts and foreign. 2. Tim. 1. 6.graces in him, (as it were) by blowing the fire, which otherwiſe would decay and languiſh in him. Finally, the neceſſity of this diligence heereby appeareth, in that without it we can neither eſcape Gods curſe, nor attaine vntounto bleſſedneſſe. For he is accurſed of God, not onelyonly who is diligent in the ſeruice of the diuell, but alſo who is negligent in the duties of his ſeruice, ſeeming like Meroz, in a cold neutrality, to take neither part; and not Judg. 5. 23.he alone who contemneth or omitteth the workes of God, but hee alſo who doth them negligently. In which number are our ciuill worldlings, Jer. 48. 10.who contenting themſelues with their morall honeſty, iuſt dealing and keeping their word, doe either wholly neglect the religious duties of Gods ſeruice, further then the Law compelleth them, or elſe performe them after a formall, cold, and careleſſe manner: nor can we, without this earneſt indeuour and ſtudious diligence, attaine vntounto eternall and heauenly bleſſedneſſe. For this rich reward is not giuen to idle loyterers, but Math. 20. 1.to painfull labourers in Gods Vineyard, nor to thoſe ſlothful ſeruants who hide their Maſters Talent in a napkin, doing with it neither good nor euill; Mat. 25. 21, 26.but vntounto thoſe who by their ſpirituall trading hauehave increaſed it to his aduantage. The Kingdome of God falleth not (as it were) by lot to the Math. 11. 12.lazie, but ſuffreth violence, and is taken by an holy force: and ſo ſtrait is and 7. 12, 13.the gate that leadeth into it, and the way ſo narrow, afflicted and troubleſome, that we cannot poſſeſſe it by ſitting at our eaſe, but muſt ſtriue to enter with all diligence and indeuour, as our Sauiour exhorteth.
§. Sect. 5 The laſt reaſon taken from the vnwearied diligence of worldlings, in purſuing of earthly things.
Laſtly, the vnwearied diligence of carnall worldlings, in ſeruing of the world and their owne luſts, for the contemptible hire of earthly vanities, may effectually moue vsus to vſe the like, or greater, in the ſeruice of our Maſter. For howſoeuer they, after their worke is done, are not ſure of their wages, or though it bee put into their hands, are not ſure to hold it; or though they doe, finde it vaine and of no worth, alwayes vnprofitable, and oftentimes hurtfull and pernicious; yet with what diligence doe they yeeld their ſeruice? with what affection doe they dote on this golden ſtrumpet? and with what zeale and deuotion doe they commit idolatry with this painted Idoll? For they are content to riſe early, and goe late to bed, to conſume their ſpirits with carking care, and their bodies with reſtleſſe labours, both by land and ſea, to ſpend their ſtrength, and to hazard vntounto innumerable dangers their health and life, yea the euerlaſting ſaluation of their ſoules, that they may obtaine riches, pleaſures and preferments, and fill their hearts with theſe windy vanities, which may puffe them vp, but neuer ſatisfie them: and therefore how much more doth this diligence become vsus in the ſeruice of God, by performing vntounto him all Chriſtian duties, ſeeing our wages as much exceedeth theirs, as heauen earth, euerlaſting excellencies, momentany vanities; the which alſo are certaine both in payment and poſſeſſion? So alſo the double diligence of Idolaters in ſeruing their Idols, and the care and coſt which is ſpent in their ſeruice, may make vsus aſhamed to bee leſſe induſtrious and painfull in the ſeruice of the true God. For they are ready to breake their ſleepe, and riſe early, with the Iſraelites, to doe them ſeruice, and to offer their oblations; Deut. 32. 6.to part with their chiefeſt ornaments, as their iewels and earerings, their ſiluer and their gold, for the making and decking of their Images; to launce and cut themſelues, with Baals prieſts before their Idols; to doe voluntary penance, and to goe on pilgrimage to ſtocks and ſtones; to conſume their ſtrength with watching, that they may performe their ſuperſtitious orizons, and to torment and whip their bodies before their Croſſe and Crucifix, to ſtrip themſelues of all their meanes, to vow voluntary pouerty, and with Iezabel, to ſpare for no coſt in maintaining their idolatrous prieſts, who draw them on, and helpe them forward in their idolatry: And ſhall we be leſſe diligent in the ſeruice of our good God, from whoſe bleſſing and free gift wee hauehave all things which wee preſently inioy, or yet doe hope for in the life to come? Or ſhall wee thinke any paines, or care, or coſt too great, in performing thoſe duties which aſſure vsus of ſaluation, when as they thinke nothing too much which they doe, or can doe, to nouriſh their doubtfull and wauering, their falſe and deceiuing hopes of their future happineſſe? Yea, the diligence of deſperate ſinners in the ſeruice of the diuell, by committing of all manner of wickedneſſe, may make vsus bluſh for ſhame, to neglect Gods ſeruice in the duties of holineſſe: For they breake their braines in plotting of miſchiefes, and ſpend their ſtrength, and hazard their health and life in effecting them. For (as the Wiſe man ſpeaketh) They ſleepe not except they hauehave done miſchiefe; Prou. 4. 16.and their ſleepe is taken away, vnleſſe they cauſe ſome to fall; and wickedneſſe and violence more cheereth their hearts, then their bread and wine. They ſerue the diuell oftentimes for nothing, and not ſeldome, euen to worldly loſſe, waſting their ſtrength in wanton pleaſures, impairing their health with coſtly gluttony, and loathed carowſes, only in a brauery, and hazarding their life by needleſſe quarrels, and bloody murthers; beſides, the inward torments of minde, heart and conſcience, which their vnruly paſſions, vaine hopes, and falſe feares, friuolous anger, and luſtfull louelove, fretting enuy, and reuengefull malice doe bring vponupon them. By all which courſes, though they hauehave no wages for their worke; yet (as the Prophet ſpeaketh) they are willing euen to weary themſelues to commit iniquity. Ier. 9. 5.And ſhall they be thus diligent in ſeruing the diuell that mortally hateth them, and ſhall wee bee negligent in Gods ſeruice, who hath ſo dearely loued vsus? Shall they thinke the greateſt paines too little in taking theſe wicked courſes, which doe but ſeale vp vntounto them their certaine deſtruction; and ſhall wee thinke any paines too great in performing ſuch holy duties as will aſſure vsus of eternall ſaluation? Finally, let the diuels diligence in diſhonouring God, and ſeeking to depriue vsus of grace and glory, that he may plunge vsus into euerlaſting perdition, make vsus ſtudious and induſtrious in ſeeking to glorifie God in our ſaluation. For as himſelfe witneſſeth, He compaſſeth the earth continually to and fro, to ſpy out all aduantages Iob 1. 7.againſt vsus, firſt, drawing vsus to ſinne, and then accuſing vsus for it: and as the Apoſtle Peter teſtifieth, He walketh about as a roring Lion, ſeeking 1. Pet. 5. 8.whom he may deuoure. And ſhal not we vſe like, or greater diligence in preſeruing our ſelues out of his danger; in keeping our ſoules and bodies holy and vndefiled, that being vnblameable, they may not bee damnified by his accuſations; and in imploying our time in ſuch holy and Chriſtian duties, as will inrich our hearts with all ſauing graces, ſtrengthen vsus to withſtand all Satans tentations, confirme our aſſurance, and further vsus in the fruition of heauenly happineſſe?