The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit, Part 2 · Chapter 6
CAP. VI.
That it is the choiceneſſe of a mans ſpirit that cauſes him to follow GOD fully.
FRom the reference that this Doct. 3.following of God fully hath to the excellency of Calebs ſpirit; The Doctrine that ariſeth is this, That it is the choiceneſſe and excellency of a mans ſpirit, that cauſeth him to follow God fully. As Comets that are called blazing ſtars do ſoone vaniſh, becauſe of the baſenes of the matter out of which they are; but Starres in the Firmament continue; becauſe they are of an heavenly ſubſtance: ſo there are many blazing Profeſſors of Religion, who riſe high for a while, but at laſt they come to nothing, becauſe their ſpirits are baſe and vile; but thoſe who have heavenly and choice ſpirits, they god on in their way, & finiſh their courſe to the honour of God and his truth, Pro. 11. 5. The righteouſneſſe of the perfect ſhall direct his way: but the wicked ſhall fall. Ezec. 36. 26, 27. A new heart will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you, &c. And after it followes, And cauſe you to walke in my Statutes, and yee ſhall keepe my Iudgements, and doe them. This new ſpirit will cauſe a man to walk in Gods Statutes; a man of ſuch a ſpirit ſhall certainly keepe his judgements, and do them even to the end. It is not ſtrength of parts that will carry a man thorow, nor ſtrength of Argument, nor ſtrength of conviction, nor ſtrength of naturall conſcience, nor ſtrength of reſolution, nor ſtrength of common grace; it is onelyonly this choice excellent ſpirit; that other ſpirit, of which wee have ſpoke ſo much before.
In this point I ſhall follow theſe three things.
1 Wee ſhall ſhew what there is in this ſpirit that doth carry on a man fully.
2 Why onelyonly this can doe it.
3 Apply it.
For the firſt, it is the choiceneſſe of a mans ſpirit that cauſeth a man to goe fully after God: for,
1 By this a man comes to have a more full preſence of God with him, 1than any other man can have; ſuch a man is nearer unto God than others, hee hath more of the nature of God, than others; is more capable of the preſence of God, than others; and God delights to let out himſelfe more to him than to others: Theſe are filled with all the fulneſſe of God, according to that expreſſion of the Apoſtle, Epheſ. 3. 19. Now this fulneſſe of God in their ſpirits muſt needs carry them on, becauſe it ſo ſatisfies them, as they feele no need of other things. Empty ſpirits are alwayes ſucking and drawing of comfort from the creatures that are about them, & hence it is that their hearts are taken off from God ſo much. Againe, a ſpirit that is filled with God, is not ſo ſenſible of any evils that are without, ſo as empty ſpirits are; as it is in the body when it is filled with good nouriſhment, with good blood and ſpirits, it is not ſenſible of cold, and alteration of weather, as the body is that is empty, and filled onelyonly with winde.
Secondly, the choiceneſſe of a mans ſpirit raiſeth it to converſe with high 2things, and ſo carries it above the rubs, the ſnares and hindrances that are below; and being above theſe, it goes on freely and fully in its courſe, and is not in that danger of miſcarrying, as other poore ſpirits are, who converſe ſo much with the things upon the earth: as Birds that flie high, are not catched by the Fowler, they are not taken by his Lime-twigs, by his Net or Pit fall ſo as others are, who are much below upon the ground. Broverb. 15. 24. The way of Life is above to the wiſe, that hee may depart from hell beneath; It is the keeping in his way above, that delivers him from the dangers & ſnares that are laid for him below. Thunders and Lightnings, tempeſts and ſtormes, make no alteration in the higheſt Region; ſo the threats and oppoſitions againſt the wayes of godlineſſe, and all the troubles that the world cauſeth, make no alterations in heavenly hearts, that keepe above. When the tree growes low, it is ſubject to bee bitten by the Beaſts, but when it is growne up on high, it is out of danger: The lower the heart is, the nearer the earth, the more danger; but when it is got up on high, the danger is paſt; and now, what ſhould hinder it from the growing up to the full meaſure of it in Chriſt.
Thirdly, the choiceneſſe of a mans 3ſpirit changeth his end, and ſo carries him on fully after the Lord; for when the end is changed, all is changed; when there are but particular changes it is a certaine argument, that the higheſt end is not changed; but when that is changed, there muſt of neceſſity bee an univerſall change upon theſe two grounds.
1 Becauſe the laſt end is alwayes loved for it ſelfe, and therefore infinitely loved.
2 It is the rule of all other things that are under it; the good of all things under it is meaſured by it, and is ſubordinate to it.
Fourthly, this choiceneſſe of ſpirit cauſeth a ſuteableneſſe, a ſympathy 4between the frame of the heart, and the wayes of holineſſe: Now ſympathies firſt, are alwayes between the generall natures of things, and not individuals, not particulars; as thus, where there is a ſympathy betweene one creature and another, it is alwayes betweene the whole kind of thoſe creatures; whereſoever ſuch Natures are found, there will be this agreement. Wee may ſee it more clearely in that which is contrary; that contrariety of nature which wee call Antipathy, it is not betweene any particulars ſo much, as betweene the whole natures of things; as between the Wolf & the Sheep, there is ſuch a contrariety: Now the nature of the Wolfe is not contrary ſo much to any particular ſheep, but to the whole nature of ſheepe, whereſoever the nature of it is found, and therefore to all ſheep; Thus it is in the ſoule, where there is ſuch a kinde of oppoſition of it againſt ſinne, it is not againſt any particular ſinne ſo much, as againſt the whole nature of ſinne, whereſoever it is; ſo where there is ſuch an agreement, which wee call a ſympathie, it is not ſo much with any particular way of holineſſe, or perticular Act, but with the whole nature of holineſſe, whereſoever it is found, and therefore ſuch a ſoule muſt needs follow God fully. Againe, ſympathies doe alwayes worke without labour and paine, and therefore where there is ſuch an agreement betweene the frame of the heart, and the wayes of God, the heart muſt needs worke fully, becauſe it workes delightfully: and yet further, this agreeablenes of ſympathie is deepely rooted in the very principles of the creature, it is founded in the very being of it, and therefore it muſt needs worke ſtrongly and conſtantly. Vaine reaſonings, carnall objections, ſubtill arguments, ſtrong oppoſitions can never prevaile againſt that ſoule, where there is this deeprooted agreeableneſſe betweene the frame of it, & the wayes of holineſſe. But that you may ſee further what a wonderfull agreeableneſſe Grace makes betweene the ſpirits of the godly, and the Law of God, which is the rule of thoſe wayes wherein God would have the ſoule to follow him in: obſerve the ſeverall expreſſions by which the Scripture ſets it out.
Firſt, it is written in the tables of their hearts.
Secondly, it is their meditation day and night, Pſal. 1.
Thirdly, it is the joy of their ſouls, Pſal. 119. 14, verſ. and 47. verſe.
Fourthly, they love it above gold, above fine gold.
Fifthly, their hearts breake for the longing it hath after it.
Sixthly, they lift up their hands to it, Pſal. 119. 48.
Seventhly, their mouthes talke of it, Pſal. 119. 13. ver. & 46. ver.
Eighthly, their feet run in it, Pſal. 119. 32.
Ninthly, their ſoule keeps it. Pſal. 119. 167.
Tenthly, they will never forget it, Pſal. 119. 16.
Eleventhly, they give up their members as inſtruments of the righteouſneſſe of it, Rom. 6. 13.
And laſtly, to name no more, (though there be many more expreſſiōs in Scripture to ſet this out) they apply their hearts to it, to fulfill it alwaies even to the end, Pſal. 119. 103.
Fifthly, This choiceneſſe of ſpirit 5cauſeth a man to looke to his duty, and not to regard what may follow. The thing that hinders moſt in their following the Lord, it is want of this; it is not want of conviction what ſhould be done, but the reaſonings of their heart, about the hard and troubleſome conſequences that will follow, if the things bee done: But a true gracious heart ſaith onelyonly, Let mee know what is my duty, let the right bee done, though heaven and earth meet together.
Sixthly, The choiceneſſe of a mans Fiat juſt…tia, etſi mundus ruat. 6ſpirit cauſeth a man, that if he doth looke at any conſequences, that may follow upon his way, he lookes onelyonly at the laſt iſſue of all, what his way will prove in his laſt concluſion; how things will goe with him when he comes to the laſt triall, what will be the ultimate end of all: Will it then be peace? ſhall I then be glad of theſe wayes I now walke in?
Seventhly, The choiceneſſe of a 7mans ſpirit ſtrengthens it againſt the impreſſions that ſenſitive objects uſe to leave upon ſoft and weake ſpirits. Moſt men have their ſpirits formed, and faſhioned according to ſenſitive objects; it is not what they apprehend in abſtract notions, that works upon them, let them bee what they will; yet, when they have to deale with ſenſitive things, the ſweetneſſe, deſireableneſſe, glory of them, works the moſt powerfully; their hearts are altered according to the impreſſion that they leave upon them, and this is great weakneſſe, and an effeminate ſoftneſſe of ſpirit: Hence the word tranſlated Effeminate, 1 Cor. 6. 9. ſignifies foreign.ſoft-ſpirited men. This diſtēper in the ſpirit, is like that in the fleſh, when it is corrupted with the dropſie; the fleſh is ſoft, and if you put your finger to it, the impreſſion of your finger ſticks in it, and pits the fleſh; ſo the impreſſion of ſenſitive objects, ſticks in diſtempered, weake, ſoft ſpirits, as it was in the other Spies who were ſent with Caleb and Ioſhuah; the terrible things they ſaw in the land, ſtucke mightily in their hearts, they brought with them the impreſſiō of them faſtened in their ſpirits: hence Numb. 13. 33. according to the tranſlation of the Greek Tranſlators, it is, They brought the feare of the land with them: But foreign.this choiceneſſe of ſpirit that was in Caleb, and is in thoſe who are truely godly, keepeth from this: and there muſt bee this firmneſſe in the ſpirit of a man, or elſe it will never cary him after the Lord fully, 2 Sam. 22. 26. With the upright thou wilt ſhew thy ſelfe upright; the word tranſlated upright, ſignifies ſtrong and perfect: There is required ſtrength, and that more than ordinary too, to cary on the ſoule to perfection.
Thus you ſee what there is in this choice ſpirit, that caries it on fully after the Lord: Now there muſt of neceſſity be this, or elſe this full following of the Lord will never be, nothing elſe will doe it. And that;
1 Becauſe the wayes of God are ſupernaturall, and therefore there muſt bee ſomething in the ſpirit of a man which is ſupernaturall, that muſt reach to them; this which is ſupernaturall in the ſpirits of godly men, wee ſee it in the effects, and we know it is above reaſon, and all naturall principles whatſoever. But what is, is very hard to expreſſe; and therefore men of parts in the World, are madde to think, that any ſhould imagine, that thoſe who are of weaker parts than themſelves, ſhould have any thing in them, to carry them on in other wayes, than they walke in; which they doe not underſtand, becauſe they doe not know, what that ſame thing is, which is called ſupernaturall; they will rather think it a conceit and phanſie, than any reall excellency: becauſe they can apprehend other things better than others, they thinke, why ſhould they not apprehend this better than others, if there were any reall excellencie in it.
2 The wayes of God are not only above nature, but contrary to nature, and therefore there muſt bee needs, ſome ſpeciall choyceneſſe of ſpirit, to carry a man on in them; there muſt bee a contrary ſtreame, to over-power the ſtreame of nature, and this ſtreame muſt be fed by ſome living fountaine, or elſe there will never bee a holding out. In following after the Lord, all naturall abilities, and common grace will doe no more but ſtop the ſtreame of corrupt nature; they cannot ſo overpower it, as to carry the ſoule another way; but the worke of grace in this choiceneſſe of ſpirit will doe it.
3 The ſtreame of times, and examples of men, are exceeding ſtrong, and it is not a little matter that will carry on the ſoule againſt them. The dead fiſh is carried down the ſtreame, though the winde ſerves to blow it up: all naturall abilities of the ſoule, will no more helpe a man againſt the ſtreame of examples, than the winde can carry the dead fiſh up the ſtream; but if there were life put into the fiſh, it were able then to move againſt the winde and ſtreame too.
4 There are ſo many ſtrong alluring temptations, where in the wiles, ſubtilties, depths of Satan, are very powerfull to draw the heart away from God, that except there bee ſome ſpeciall worke of Gods grace to give wiſdome to diſcerne the deceits of ſin, to make the ſoule ſpiritually ſubtill, to find out the cunning devices of Satan, and to diſcerne the danger of them, the ſoule moſt certainly could never hold on in the way of its following after the Lord.
5 There are ſo many troubles, oppoſitions, that it meets withall in this way, that moſt certainly would drive it out, were it not for ſome choyce Worke of Gods grace in it; but this choyceneſſe of ſpirit, will carry a man through all them: It is Gods promiſe, Eſay 59. 19. That when the enemy ſhall come in like a floud, the Spirit of the Lord ſhall lift up a ſtandard againſt him. We made uſe of this Scripture before, for oppoſition of ſtrong corruptions; but it is true here now, for the reſiſting of ſtrong ſpirituall enemies, of ſtrong oppoſitions; when they come in like a floud againſt the ſoule, to carry it out of Gods wayes, the Spirit of God in it doth lift up a ſtandard againſt them, & were it not for this, it could not hold: It is this good and ſound conſtitution of the ſoule that makes it endure thoſe oppoſitions that it meets withall. An aguiſh heat may bee greater, than that which ariſeth from a good conſtitution, but it is not able to reſiſt cold: ſo there may be a naturall violence in a mans ſpirit for a while, in the profeſſion of Religion, which may ſeeme to be zeale, but not ariſing from the good conſtitution of the ſoule, when troubles come, it vaniſhes, giving no ſtrength at all.
6 There are ſo many ſcandals and reproaches that riſe againſt the ways of God, ſo many aſperſions that are caſt upon them, that if a man hath not more than an ordinary ſpirit, hee moſt certainly will be offended: Bleſſed are they that are not offended in mee, ſaith Chriſt. It is a great bleſſing when there fals out ſcandals, and when we ſee grievous aſperſions caſt upon Gods wayes, yet not to be offended; there needs be ſome more than ordinary light to diſcover to a man, the certainty of that good there is in the ways of God; he had need be ſure of his principles, and know in whom he hath beleeved.
7 Yea, God many times hides himſelfe from his ſervants, while they are following after him, and this oftentimes proves the ſoreſt temptation of all, and a greater diſcouragement then all the reſt: for as for oppoſitions, ſcandals, reproaches, theſe are things they make account of, and can often lightly paſſe them over; but when God hides his face, this puts them at a ſtand, now they are in the dark, and know not what to doe; Chriſt was not much troubled at the reproaches of men, at the oppoſitions hee met withall from them; for the Scripture ſaith, He deſpiſed the ſhame, and endured the Croſſe; but when his Father hid his face from him, then he was in an agony, then his ſpirit began to bee amazed, then his ſoule was ſorowfull to the death, then hee fals groveling upon the ground, then he ſweats drops of water and bloud, then hee cries out, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken mee? Theſe ſpirituall deſertions in their degree, Gods ſervants often meet withall in their way, ſo as, if they had not choice ſpirits, ſome ſpeciall worke of God in their ſoules, they would certainly fall and ſinke in it. Now put all theſe together, and we ſee, it is not every ordinary ſpirit, that is like to goe on fully after the Lord; it muſt needs bee ſome thing extraordinary, that preſerves a ſpark in the midſt of waves, that preſerves a candle light, in the midſt of ſtorms and tempeſts.
Never wonder then, or bee offended, to ſee ſo many to fall off from Vſe 1.God; few men have choice ſpirits; thoſe who are godly expect no other from moſt profeſſors, and therefore they are not troubled when they ſee this fall out; They went out from us, becauſe they were not of us, ſaith the Apoſtle. Wicked men are offended, becauſe they know not what the worke of grace meanes; and hence, if they ſee a man make profeſſion of Religion, they make no difference, as though there were as much to be expected from him, as from another; as though the cauſe of God fell when he fell; no ſuch matter; If you ſee mens ſpirits proud, ſlight, earthly, ſenſuall, or carried with a greater violence than their principles will beare; I doe not meane, though their affections may ſometimes goe beyond their knowledge; but by principles I meane, the rooted graces of God in their hearts, as one may perceive in ſome, there are not graces rooted ſutable to their expreſſions, & outward wayes; and when you ſee not an evenneſſe in the wayes of men, then never expect from them any full following the Lord: and if they fall off, be not troubled, let it be no more than you made account of before-hand would be.
Hence the world is miſtaken, who Vſe 2.judge it ſtoutneſſe, and ſtubbornneſſe of ſpirit in Gods ſervants, that will go on in the wayes of godlines; they are a kind of inflexible people, there is no perſwading of them, there is no dealing with them: No, it is no ſtubbornneſſe; it is the choiceneſſe of their ſpirits, that makes them to doe as they doe; you judge it ſtubbornneſſe becauſe you doe not know the principles upō which they goe. I confeſſe, if I ſee a man ſtand conſtantly in his way, and will not bee moved by the perſwaſions of others, if I doe not underſtand the reaſons upon which hee goes, I cannot but thinke it ſtoutneſſe, and this is your caſe; but if you did but know, what are their reaſons, what are their powerfull motives, that draw them on in the wayes of God, you would not have ſuch thoughts of them; Their ſpirits within them conſtraine them, as Elihu ſayes of himſelfe in another caſe, Iob 32. 18.
Take theſe convincements that it is not ſtubbornneſſe, but choiceneſſe of ſpirit, that carries them on ſo unmoveable in their way.
1. In other things they are as yeeldable, as tractable, as eaſie to bee perſwaded as any men; it is only in the matter of the Lord their God they are thus. They can beare burthens upon their ſhoulders, and cry out, and reſiſt as little as any; if you will compell them to goe a mile, they will be content, if it may do good, to goe two, yea, as far as the ſhooes of the preparation of the Goſpell of peace will carry them; who can beare wrongs and injuries from men better than they? ſtubborne-ſpirited men cannot doe thus.
2 Stubbornneſſe is joyned with deſire of revenge; but in theſe diſpoſitions, there is all pity and compaſſion; they pray for thoſe who doe oppoſe them; when they are reviled, they revile not againe; If ſometimes their corruptions ſhould bee ſtirred, they are aſhamed and confounded, in their own thoughts, for that they have done, they mourne and lament in the bitterneſſe of their ſpirits for it.
Thirdly, ſtubborne diſpoſitions are not contracted on a ſudden; it is by degrees, and continuance of time that 3alters nature; but this diſpoſition of being unmoveable in Gods wayes comes many times even of a ſudden, as ſoone as ever the heart is turned, which is an evidence of a new principle put into it.
Fourthly, ſtubborne hearts doe 4not uſe to ſeek God to uphold them, to ſtrengthen them, to bleſſe them in that way; they doe not bleſſe God for being with them, helping of them to perſiſt in their way, as Gods ſervants doe; they go to God to get ſtrength to inable them to bee immoveable; they give God the glory of it, when they have found themſelves inabled to withſtand temptations.
Fiftly, thoſe who are of ſtubborn diſpoſitions, doe not uſe to bee moſt 5ſtubborne, when the heart is moſt broken with afflictions; ſtout hearts, though in their proſperity are unyeeldable, there is no dealing with them then; their hearts are preſently up; if you move them to any thing they have no mind to, their words are ſtout, their anſwers are ſierce; but let afflictions come, then, as Eſ. 29. 4. Their hearts are brought down, and they ſpeake as one out of the ground, and their ſpeech is low, as one out of the duſt; then they are willing to heare what you ſay; As the young Gallant that Salomon ſpeakes of in Proverbs 5. there was no ſpeaking to him in his proſperity; but when his fleſh and body were conſumed, then he mournes at the laſt, and cries out, How have I hated inſtruction, and my heart deſpiſed reproofe! I have not obeyed the voyce of my Teachers, &c. But now, thoſe that are godly, in their greateſt afflictions, when their hearts are moſt broken, when God humbles them moſt, even then they are moſt ſettled and unmoveable in that way they walked in before, and it is then the greateſt griefe of their ſoules, that they walked no cloſer with God in it, than they did. Have other thoughts then of Gods people, than you have had; do not accuſe that of ſtubbornneſſe, that you doe not underſtand; thinke with your ſelves, that there may be ſomething in their ſpirits, more than you know of.
Let thoſe who have this excellent choice ſpirit, encourage themſelvs in vſe 3.this, that ſurely it will inable them to follow God fully; let them know,
Firſt, that though they be weak, if 1their ſpirits bee right, if of the right kind, they ſhall certainly hold out. That which Chriſt ſaid for the comfort of the Church of Philadelphia, Revel. 3. 8, they may apply for theirs; Thou haſt a little ſtrength, ſaith Chriſt, and haſt kept my Word, and haſt not denyed my Name. A little ſtrength, if it bee right, if it bee the ſtrength of a ſound ſpirit, it will carry on the ſoule to keepe Gods Word, and inable, not to deny his Name.
Secondly, therefore is Chriſt filled with all fulneſſe of all grace, that out 2of his ſulneſſe thou mayſt receive grace for grace; that Spirit by which he is ſo plentifully annoynted, it is for thee.
But I am afraid my ſpirit is not this choice ſpirit, and therfore I ſhall not Object.hold out in following the Lord.
Firſt, is it a broken humble ſpirit in ſenſe of thy weakeneſſes and Anſ.wants?1
Secondly, that which thou doſt, though but weakly, is it upon divine 2grounds, and haſt thou divine ends?
Thirdly, doth the ſight of thy weakneſſe make thee cling, and cleave unto 3Jeſus Chriſt?
Fourthly, when thou loſeſt God in following him, art thou ſenſible of 4the want of his preſence, and doeſt thou never leave crying and ſeeking till thou enjoyeſt him again? Certainly this is a true choyce ſpirit, that will carry on fully in following the Lord, when thouſands of glorious Hypocrites ſhall vaniſh and come to nothing.
If it be this choiceneſſe of ſpirit, Vſe 4.that is the only thing that will fully carry after the Lord, then let us learn to looke to our ſpirits: Keepe thy heart with all diligence, for out of it come the iſſues of life: Doe not ſo much complain of tēptations, oppoſitions, troubles you meet withal; but look to your ſpirits, & all is ſafe and wel. If there be the ſpirit of love & of a ſound mind, there will be the ſpirit of power; for theſe are joyned together by the Apoſtle; there need not be 2 Tim. 1. 7.the ſpirit of feare; for the ſpirit of a ſound mind, & the ſpirit of feare, are oppoſed one to another in the ſame place. But wherein ſhould we looke Object. Anſ.to our ſpirits? Firſt, take heed to your judgmēts, keep your judgemēts clear for God & his truth; as it is ſaid, Eſ. 33 1that wiſdom and knowledge ſhould Eſay 33. 6.be the ſtability of thoſe times; ſo, true wiſdome and knowledge preſerving the judgments of men right & ſound, are the ſtability of mens hearts. Take heed your judgmēts come not to be altered, to thinke otherwiſe of Gods wayes, than you did before, to have other opinions of thē. Though there may bee many weakneſſes, yet if the judgement be kept right, all may doe well; but if the Leproſie bee got into the head, then the ſoule is in a dangerous condition: as Lev. 13. 44. when the Prieſt ſhall looke upon a Leprous man, and ſee the plague is got into his head, the Text ſaith, he ſhal pronoūce him utterly unclean, for the Plague is in his head. The Prieſt was to pronoūce none to be utterly unclean, but ſuch who had the plague in their heads.
Secondly, labor to keep conſcience 2clear, take heed of pollution there, take heed of a breach in thy ſpirit there, for that will weaken it much: conſcience is the ſtrong Tower of thy ſoule, if the Truth of God be got out there, the ſtrength of the ſoule is gone.
Thirdly, labour to keepe thy heart low and humble; when the fleſh ſwels, 3it cannot beare any hard thing upon it: though a member growes bigger when it ſwels, yet it growes weaker; ſo it is with the ſoule.
Fourthly, labour to keepe the ſpirit 4heavenly; mixture of droſſe will weaken it, convince thy ſoule, that a little of the Creature will ſerve turne, to carry thee thorow this thy Pilgrimage well enough. One told a Philoſopher; If you will be content to pleaſe Dionyſius, you need not feed upon green hearbs: The Philoſopher anſwers him, And if you will be content to feed upon greene hearbs, you need not pleaſe Dionyſius. So if men would be content with a little in the World, to be in a low and meane condition, they need not flatter; thoſe things that draw others from following after the Lord, would not move them at all.
Fiftly, labour to keep thy ſpirit in a 5continuall trembling frame, abiding in the feare of the Lord all the day long; the feare of the Lord cauſeth men to depart from evill; meditate the feare of the Lord continually.
Laſtly, keep thy ſpirit continually working; many things have much power in them while they are in motion, but weake when the motion ceaſeth; ſinne is very ſtrong while it is in motion, but when affliction ſtops the motion, the truths of God have more power over it; ſo grace, while it is acting, it is ſtrong, but if it growes dull, it growes weake, and is ſoone turned aſide. Thus we looking to our ſpirits, wee ſhall bee able to follow the Lord fully, and finiſh our courſe in peace.
FINIS.
End of the text · Jeremiah Burroughs, The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit (1639)