§. Sect. 1 That all those which are sin∣cere, are also constant in the duties of a godly life.
THe last propertie of those Christian duties which apper∣taine to a godly life, is constancy in performing them, of * 1.1 which there are two branches, continuance without re∣mission or intermission, and perseuerance without Apo∣stasie or defection; both which Dauid conioyneth in his practice of obedience; I haue (saith he) inclined mine heart to performe thy Statutes alway, euen vnto the end. Concerning the former, it is not sufficient to intitle vs vnto true godlinesse, that we be religious by fits, hauing our good and bad dayes, or that wee spend some time in religious exercises, and then thinke that we are set at liberty to liue as wee list, and to follow the lusts of our owne flesh; that wee sometime per∣forme Christian duties, when our worldly profits or pleasures will giue vs any leasure, and neglect, or slightly performe them when wee haue other imployments; or (as it were) in some religious humour, and pang of de∣uotion, caused by feare of some approching iudgement, or by smart of some present affliction. For inconstancie, which is a fruit of folly, will not stand with true godlinesse, which is the head and prime part of spirituall wisedome, the which, as it inableth vs to choose that which is best, so also * 1.2 to be constant in our choyce: Whereas folly and impiety are full of vanity and lightnesse; causing men, according to that sway which they beare in them, to be vnsettled and inconstant in all their wayes (if at least, they haue any inclination vnto religious duties, and be not wholly settled vpon their dregs) and like Meteors hanging in the ayre, sometimes moouing towards heauen, and soone after falling backe againe towards the earth. But no further progresse hath any made in piety, then hee hath profited in the constant practice of religious duties; and they who are sometimes hot, and sometimes cold, and sometimes betweene both, luke-warme; who one while performe seruice vnto God, and another while neglect it, now deuout and seemingly zealous in good things, and soone after cold and negligent, carnall and prophane, haue iust cause to suspect themselues, that as yet they haue made no sound entrance into the practice of god∣linesse.