A Golden Chain

The fourth common gift of the Holy Ghost, is Ability to bridle and restrain some affections, so as they shall not break out into outrageous behaviour. Haman a wicked man, and an enemy to Gods Church, when he saw Mordecai the Jew sitting in the kings gate, and that he would not stand up nor move unto him, he was full of indignation: nevertheless the text saith, that he refrained himself. And when Abimelech an heathen king had taken Sara Abraham's wife, God said unto him:¹ I know that thou didst this with an upright heart: and the text addeth further, I have kept thee, that thou shouldest not sin against me. And thus the Lord giveth to men, as yet without the spirit of sanctification, this gift to bridle themselves, so as in outward action they shall not practise this or that sin. For why did not Abimelech commit adultery? surely because God kept him from it. Again in the histories of the heathen we may read of many that were just, liberal, meek, continent, &c. and that by a general operation of the holy Ghost that represseth the corruption of nature, for the common good. Here then if any man ask, how it cometh to pass that some men are more modest and civil then others, seeing all men by nature are equally wicked, the answer may be, not as the common saying is, because some are of better nature then others (for all the sons of Adam are equal in regard of nature: the child new borne in that respect is as wicked as the eldest man that ever lived) but the reason is, because God gives this common gift of restraining the affections more to some then to others. This must be considered of us all. For a man may have the spirit of God to bridle many sins, and yet never have the spirit to mortify the same, and to make him a new creature. And this being so, we must take heed that we deceive not our selves. For it is not sufficient for a man to live in outward civility, and to keep in, some of his affections upon some occasion (for that a wicked man may do) but we must further labour to feel in our selves the spirit of God, not only bridling sin in us, but also mortifying and killing the same. Indeed both of them are the good gifts of Gods spirit, but yet the mortification of sin is the chiefest, being an effectual sign of grace and proper to the elect.

The fourth common gift of the Holy Ghost, is Abilitie to bridle and restraine some affections, so as they shall not breake out into outragions behauiour. Haman a wicked man, and an enemie to Gods Church, when he sawe Mordecai the Iewe sitting in the kings gate, and that hee would not stand vp nor mooue vnto him, he was full of indignatiō: neuertheles the text saith, that he refrained himselfe. And when Abimelech an heathen king had taken Sara Abrahams wife, God said vnto him: