godliness

Cleanliness is next to Godliness, and some people do the same by their religion.

—Dickens, CharlesJohn Huffam

Lord, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness.

—Book of Common Prayer

   Lord, remove these exercises from the Sabbath. Any exercise which withdraweth from godliness either upon the Sabbath or on any other day, is wicked and to be forbidden.

—Stubbes, Philip

  Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: altar, sword and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness.We are selfish men; Oh! raise us up, return to us again; And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. Thy soul was like a star, and dwelt apart; Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

—Wordsworth,William