§. Sect. 1 That wee can no otherwise please God, then by fra∣ming our liues according to his will.
WHat the person must be that is to leade a godly life, and how he ought to bee qualified that must offer vnto God any ac∣ceptable seruice, wee haue shewed in the former Chapter. And now it remaineth that we intreate of the latter part of the description, wherein the actions which in this life are to be performed, are generally expressed. And heere two things are to bee considered, first, the matter of this godly life, or the maine duties which are to be performed; and secondly, the forme and manner how they ought to be done. The matter is either generall, or more speciall. Generally, it is required, that we please God in all things, conforming our wills and actions, our thoughts, words, and workes, in all holy obedience to his will, leauing and forsaking whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto him, and re∣pugnant to his holy will and commandement, and contrariwise imbracing and practising whatsoeuer is acceptable in his sight; for his will is the per∣fect rule of righteousnesse, and whatsoeuer agreeth with it, is iust and good, but whatsoeuer swarueth from it, either on the right hand o•• the left, is crooked, euill, and wicked, and consequently odious and displea∣sing in his sight. And therefore if we would please God, we must in the first place deny our selues and our owne wills, saying with our Sauiour, Not my will, but thine bee done; neither must we aske counsell of carnall rea∣son, nor when we know Gods will, dispute with flesh and blood, whether it be fit or vnfit, profitable or vnprofitable, reasonable or against reason, to doe that which God commandeth, but we must yeeld vnto it absolute obedience, doing Gods will, as the Saints and Angels doe it in heauen, cheerefully and readily, without gainesaying, doubting, or replying. For if earthly Princes will not indure to haue subiects scan their Lawes, nor examine their Proclamations, to see with what reason they command, but require absolute obedience in all things not repugnant to the Law of God, and will not bee serued according to their subiects best intentions, but will haue their obedience squared by their Lawes: If euery master in a family will bee serued according to his owne pleasure, and will not for matter or manner leaue it to his seruants choise, to performe what seruice best sorteth with their owne humour and liking; And if the Captaine of a company, or Generall of an Armie, will not excuse in a Souldier the neg∣lect of their commands, vpon the fairest pretence, but seuerely punish euen prosperous disobedience, and succesfull disorder with great seuerity; then how much lesse will the King of kings indure to haue his will neglected, and ours preferred in his seruice? And how much more will he who is the Lord of hostes, be displeased with vs, if in our spirituall warfare we regard not what he commandeth, but performe such seruice as best suiteth with our owne conceites? No man that warreth (saith the Apostle) intangleth * 1.1 himselfe with the affaires of this life, that hee may please him who hath chosen him to be a Souldier; and if a man striue for masteries, yet is he not crowned,