wills, and yeeld our selues in absolute obedience to the will of God; praying, because he will haue vs pray, hearing and reading his Word, be∣cause it is his will that we should do so, giuing almes, and doing works of mercy, that we may please him by doing his will; yea seeking the saluati∣on of our owne soules, not chiefly because we desire it for our owne good; but because his will is to glorifie himselfe in our saluation and happinesse. For Gods will is the cause of causes; and as all things came from it, so must all things tend vnto it as their maine scope and end. It is that which gaue first being to our wills, and preserueth them in it; and therefore they must not be absolute in themselues, but in all things yeeld to the will of their Creator, willing whatsoeuer they will, because God first willeth it. It is the rule of righteousnesse and all perfection, and all things are iust and vniust, perfect or imperfect, straight or crooked, as they agree or dif∣fer from it; and therefore there is no goodnesse in our wills, no not in the chusing and imbracing of the best actions and duties that can be named, but onely so farre forth as we conforme them to the will of God, and doe all we doe in obedience vnto it. And if first and chiefly we performe vnto God any seruice, because our will and desire leadeth vs vnto it, and not principally in this respect, because God willeth it, and would haue vs also to will and doe it, it doth hereby lose all grace and beauty, and so also all reward at Gods hand, seeing we serue not him, but our selues, when wee aime not chiefly at the doing of his will, that wee may please and glorifie him, but of our owne. Neither are our actions chiefly to bee esteemed good or euill according to the matter, but according to the maine scope and end of them which giueth them their denomination; nor is any act, seeme it neuer so glorious, to be esteemed Gods seruice, which is not done in obedience vnto him, nor any obedience which hath not conformity with his will. In which regard it may be truly said, that the basest workes of the most seruile calling, done by a faithfull Christian, in simple obe∣dience to the will of God to glorifie him, are more pleasing vnto him, and esteemed for better seruice then the praier and fasting, hearing the Word, and giuing almes of Pharisaical hypocrites, which are done either for the praise of men, or as workes satisfactory to Gods iustice, and to merit by them their owne saluation. Finally, if wee performe all good duties not as our owne will, but as the will of God, and labour in all things that his will may chiefly sway and rule in ours, wee shall heereby adde much excellency vnto all our good actions. For seeing the action receiueth worth and dignity from the agent, in which regard the same thing done by a mighty Prince, is esteemed highly, which in an ordinary and meane person is little regarded; therefore must needs all good duties bee much more excellent, when the will of God is the chiefe motiue that setteth vs on worke, and not our owne will, seeing they proceed from a much more excellent cause.