Use 2 A Second use from this point is this: If God be a spirit, then his dominion, government, and providence is chiefly exercised on the spirits of men.1 It is true, his providence is over all things that belong to us: but, as he is in himself a Spirit, so he puts forth, and exerciseth this power of his principally in guiding the spirits of men, and ⟨p. 26⟩in that you are chiefly to observe his providence toward you. And that you shall see in Rom. 14.17.2 The kingdom of God, that is, his rule, and power, is not in meat and drink, for they are outward things, and he that is a spirit regards them not; but it is in righteousness and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost: that is, in the things that belong to the spirit, therein is his kingdom, and dominion chiefly exercised. So also, Psal. 33.14, 15.3 From the place of his habitation he looketh down upon all the inhabitants of the earth: he fashioneth their hearts alike, he considereth all their works. Mark it, when God looks down from heaven, and beholds the children of men, the chiefest thing that he doth, wherein his government is exercised, is, in that he fashions their hearts and spirits: and therefore those eternal subjects of his that live with him for ever, and spirits, as the Angels, and the souls of men. Therefore if thou wouldest observe the will of the Lord toward thee, and wouldest see, wherein his providence is chiefly exercised, look upon thy spirit upon all occasions; that is, what bents, what inclinations, what hopes, and desires he hath put into thy soul. If you look upon men in the world, you shall see them divers in their spirits; one man lusts after riches, honour and preferment; another after gaming, sporting and drinking: now look upon this temper of spirit as the greatest judgement of all others. Again, look upon the spirits of other men, they are fashioned ⟨p. 27⟩a contrary way, to deny themselves, to seek grace, and avoid sin; to be content to have God alone, to do his work, and to leave their wages to God, to live a painful life, serving God, and men with their sweetness: this is a quite contrary spirit, and this is the greatest blessing. Therefore you shall see, that when the Lord is angry with a man, so that his anger is wound up to the highest peg, then he gives him over to this judgement: as it is, Psal. 81.12.4
Vse 2 A Second use from this point is this: If God be a spirit, then his dominion, government, and providence is chiefly exercised on the spirits of men.1 It is true, his providence is over all things that belong to us: but, as he is in himselfe a Spirit, so he puts forth, and exerciseth this power of his principally in guiding the spirits of men, and ⟨p. 26⟩in that you are chiefly to observe his providence toward you. And that you shall see in Rom. 14.17.2 The kingdome of God, that is, his rule, and power, is not in meate and drinke, for they are outward things, and hee that is a spirit regards them not; but it is in righteousnesse and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost: that is, in the things that belong to the spirit, therein is his kingdome, and dominion chiefly exercised. So also, Psal. 33.14, 15.3 From the place of his habitation hee looketh downe upon all the inhabitants of the earth: he fashioneth their hearts alike, hee considereth all their workes. Marke it, when God lookes downe from heaven, and beholdes the children of men, the chiefest thing that he doth, wherein his government is exercised, is, in that hee fashions their hearts and spirits: and therefore those eternall subjects of his that live with him for ever, and spirits, as the Angels, and the soules of men. Therefore if thou wouldest observe the will of the Lord toward thee, and wouldest see, wherein his providence is chiefly exercised, looke upon thy spirit upon all occasions; that is, what bents, what inclinations, what hopes, and desires hee hath put into thy soule. If you looke upon men in the world, you shall see them divers in their spirits; one man lusts after riches, honour and preferment; another after gaming, sporting and drinking: now looke upon this temper of spirit as the greatest judgement of all others. Againe, looke upon the spirits of other men, they are fashioned ⟨p. 27⟩a contrary way, to deny themselves, to seeke grace, and avoid sinne; to be content to have God alone, to doe his worke, and to leave their wages to God, to live a painfull life, serving God, and men with their sweetnesse: this is a quite contrary spirit, and this is the greatest blessing. Therefore you shall see, that when the Lord is angry with a man, so that his anger is wound up to the highest pegge, then he gives him over to this judgement: as it is,
- 1His government chiefly exercised on the spirits of men.
- 2Rom. 14.17.
- 3Psal. 13.14, 15.
- 4Psal. 81.12.
