There is a difference of degrees of things. God hath established in the world degrees of things; there are some good, & some ill by ⟨p. 21⟩his permission, & of good, there are some that are greater goods, and some less, there are spiritual goods, and outward goods; and of spiritual good, there are some that are means leading to that which is spiritually good, and some that are spiritual good things in their own essence, and nature: the leading preparing things, are the means of salvation, the Word, and Sacraments, and being in the visible Church; the true spiritual good, it he good that we get by these things, faith and love, and spiritual inward strength. ⟨p. 22⟩Now that there is degrees of things, the Prophet here insinuates when he saith, One thing have I desired, that is, of all these variety of things, he desired the best that includes all in it. God to exercise the wisdom that he hath given to man, hath planted a difference in the creatures, and hath given a faculty to man, to make a right choice in those differences: and then man makes a right choice, when he chooseth as God chooseth: Now God makes choice of spiritual things to be the best things, and them he gives to his best friends; ⟨p. 23⟩he knows they will make us good, and supply all outward wants whatsoever, and sanctify all estates, and conditions to us; and they are eternal, suitable to the spiritual nature of our souls. God knows this very well: therefore God hath set spiritual things, as the one only thing: & so the soul when it is made spiritual, and hath the Image of God upon it, it chooseth as God chooseth.
There is a difference of degrees of things. God hath established in the world degrees of things; there are some good, & some ill by ⟨p. 21⟩his permission, & of good, there are some that are greater goods, and some lesse, there are spirituall goods, and outward goods; and of spirituall good, there are some that are meanes leading to that which is spiritually good, and some that are spirituall good things in their owne essence, and nature: the leading preparing things, are the meanes of salvation, the Word, and Sacraments, and being in the visible Church; the true spirituall good, it he good that wee get by these things, faith and love, and spirituall inward strength. ⟨p. 22⟩Now that there is degrees of things, the Prophet here insinuates when he saith, One thing have I desired, that is, of all these variety of things, hee desired the best that includes all in it. God to exercise the wisedome that hee hath given to man, hath planted adifference in the creatures, and hath given a faculty to man, to make a right choise in those differences: and then man makes a right choise, when hee chooseth as God chooseth: Now God makes choise of spirituall things to be the best things, and them he gives to his best friends; ⟨p. 23⟩he knowes they will make us good, and supply all outward wants whatsoever, and sanctifie all estates, and conditions to us; and they are eternall, sutable to the spirituall nature of oursoules. God knowes this very well: therefore God hath set spirituall things, as the one only thing: & so the soule when it is made spirituall, and hath the Image of God upon it, it chooseth as God chooseth.
