The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit, Part 2 · Chapter 2
CAP. II.
The excellency of this frame of ſpirit, in foure things.
THe ſecond thing propounded in the point, was, to 2ſhew wherein the excellency of ſuch a kind of frame of ſpirit lies, take it in theſe foure things.
Firſt this is truly to honour God 1as a God; except God be honoured as infinite, hee is not honoured as God; now it is the full following him that onelyonly honours him as infinite; where God is followed and not thus, hee is followed no otherwiſe than a creature may bee followed; this is not therefore to honour him as a God, but rather it is a diſhonor to that infinite excellency & bleſſedneſſe of his, whereby he is infinitely above all that creatures are, or that they are any way capable of. The great thing that God aimed at in the creating of the heavens and earth, was, that he might by Angels, and men, bee honoured as a GOD, and therefore that which gives him this, hath true and much excellency in it.
Secondly, this full following of God, doth much honour the work of 2Grace, and the profeſſion of godlineſſe; it ſhewes a realitie; power, excellency and beauty in it; it ſhewes that it proceeds out of the fulneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt, ſuch as hath high and heavenly principles; when there is power, proportion, and conſtancy in a mans wayes, there muſt needs bee much beauty in them; there is a forcing of conviction from the conſciences of evill men by them: this takes away all pretences from men that they know not how to ſpeak evill of the wayes of godlineſſe; they know not how to oppoſe and perſecute them; when they can ſee no flaw, when, though they watch what they can, yet they can ſee nothing unſutable to their principles. The principles of godlineſſe for the moſt part are acknowledged by the conſciences of the worſt, who have any light in them; & therefore when all a mans wayes are ſutable to theſe, it puts wicked mē to a ſtand; they know not what to ſay againſt ſuch men, nor againſt their way; but their owne thoughts tell them, that ſurely there is ſomething in theſe men, that hath realitie, and power, and divine excellency in it, that is from none other but from God himſelfe.
Thirdly, this hath ſuch excellency in it, as that God himſelfe boaſts 3of ſuch as theſe are; as they glory in the Lord, and bleſſe themſelves in the Lord; ſo the Lord ſeemes to glory in them, and to account his name bleſſed by them; as you may ſee how God rejoyces in, and makes his boaſt of Iob, Chap. 1. verſ. 8. Haſt thou conſidered my ſervant Iob, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect, and an upright man? And ſo of David, I have found a man after mine own heart, which ſhall fulfill all my will: So of thoſe wee read of in Revel. 14. Theſe are they which were not defiled; and againe, Theſe are they which follow the Lambe whitherſoever he goeth; and again in the ſame verſe, Theſe were redeemed from among men, being the firſt fruits unto God, and to the Lambe, and in their mouth was found no guile.
Fourthly, this following of the Lord fully, doth ever attaine its end; 4it proſpers in that it workes for: in Cap. 3.whatſoever thing any ſoule followes the Lord fully, it ſhall be ſure to accompliſh that it aymes at, and to be ſatisfied in that it would have: As Hoſ. 6. 3. Then ſhall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: Thus David, in Pſal. 63. where his ſoule thirſted after God, his fleſh longed for him, his ſoule followed hard after him; he ſaith himſelfe in the ſame Pſalme, that Gods right hand did now uphold him, and that his ſoule ſhould be ſatisfied, as with marrow and fatneſſe; and his mouth ſhould praiſe the Lord with joyfull lips; and the King ſhall rejoyce in God.