§. Sect. 5 Of our feare and care that we be not cir∣cumuented with sinne.
Fifthly, in consideration of our owne frailty and infirmity, and the malice and subtilty of our spirituall enemies, we must daily and continu∣ally feare that we be not ouertaken with the deceitfulnesse of sinne, nor caught in these snares of the deuill, which ought iustly to bee so odious and lothsome vnto vs; and haue our hearts taken vp with feruent and zea∣lous desires, to preserue our soules and bodies in purity and honour, free from the pollution of any sinne. To which end, wee must daily with all conscionable care, keepe a diligent and straight watch ouer all our workes and wayes, but especially ouer our hearts, that they be not ouertaken with any loue or liking of sinne, but constantly repell the first motions and al∣lurements of it, when they present themselues vnto vs; especially we must haue an eye to our naturall infirmities, and those sinnes, vnto which be∣ing most prone, we are most easily ouertaken of them. Yea, wee must in this watch carefully auoide, not onely the sinnes themselues, but also all the occasions and meanes which may draw vs to the committing of them; especially the familiar society of wicked men, who are most apt to cor∣rupt and infect vs with their perswasions and euill examples. Finally, wee must daily resolue and indeuour, not onely to leaue and forsake all sinne, but also to serue the Lord, in performing all the contrary duties of holi∣nesse, righteousnesse, and sobriety, according to all good occasions and opportunities, which in the whole day, or any part thereof shall be offred vnto vs, and in all our thoughts, words, and deeds, to please the Lord, by yeelding cheerefull obedience vnto his holy will. Especially, our care and indeuour must be to perfect those graces, in which wee finde our selues most defectiue, and with extraordinary diligence to practise those duties towards God, our neighbours, and our selues, which our consciences tell vs we haue formerly most neglected, and vnto which we feele our corrupt natures to bee most backward and auerse; that so we may daily aspire to a greater growth in godlinesse, and bring forth, the longer we liue, the more and better fruits of new obedience.