§. Sect. 3 The proper∣ties of sound resolution: As first, that it must be vni∣uersall, &c.
But seeing many men deceiue themselues with shadowes and shewes of good purposes and resolutions of cleauing vnto God, and pleasing him by their seruice; it will not be amisse to set downe some properties and signes whereby we may know that, vnto which the Scriptures so earnest∣ly perswade vs. And first, this resolution ought to be generall and vniuer∣sall, extending it selfe not only to some few of many duties, but vnto all without exception. We must with Dauid haue respect vnto all Gods Com∣mandements; * 1.1 and walke worthy of the Lord, vnto all pleasing, being fruitfull in euery good worke, and hauing a good conscience in all things, as the Apostle speaketh. Secondly, it must be diligent and painefull in the vse of all good meanes whereby we may attaine vnto our end; like vnto the resolution of worldlings in compassing earthly things, who spare for no paines for the atchieuing their purposes, but labour night and day, by Sea and land, for the compassing of their riches, pleasures and preferments. So as wee may say with Dauid, My soule followeth hard after thee; and neuer rest in our * 1.2 pursuite, till with the Spouse in the Canticles, we inioy him whom our soule loueth. Thirdly, it must be so magnanimous and couragious, that nothing may be able to daunt or dismay it: and the greater the difficulties and dangers be which crosse vs in our Christian courses, the more must wee double and redouble our resolutions to withstand and ouercome them, though it be with the losse of riches, friends, yea, euen life it selfe. And such a resolution was in good Ioshua, who though all the people did leaue * 1.3 the Lord, vowed himselfe and his family vnto his seruice. And in Ruth, whose resolution of adhering to Naomi and her God, could not bee hin∣dred by any disswasion. And finally, in the Apostle Paul, who when hee was perswaded by his friends, that he should not expose himselfe to the perill of persecution, by going vp to Ierusalem, breaketh through all dif∣ficulties in the strength of his couragious resolution; What meane you to * 1.4 weepe and breake my heart? for I am ready, not to be bound onely, but also to die at Hierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus. Yea, when the holy Ghost himselfe witnessed, that in euery Citie, bonds and afflictions did abide him, his resoluti∣on made him constant in his course: But none of these things (saith he) moue * 1.5 me neither count I my life deare vnto my selfe, so that I might finish my course with ioy, &c. Fourthly, it is the property of this resolution of adhering vnto God, to ioyne with this fortitude and magnanimity, true humility; not grounding our courage vpon our owne strength, as Peter did, who trusting to the ardencie and vnchangeablenesse of his loue towards Christ, resolued, that though all men should forsake him, yet hee would * 1.6 not. For if we leane vpon this weake Reede, it will most faile and deceiue vs, when we most rely vpon it; but being humbled in the sight and sense of our owne weakenesse and frailty, wee must wholly rest vpon the power and promises of God, and like the child in the mothers armes, wee must cling vnto him with all our strength, but not so much trust to the firme∣nesse of our hold, as to his clasping of vs, knowing that if he withdraw his strength and leaue vs, we shall soone cease cleauing vnto him, and fall in∣to