Then thirdly he sets 1down this One thing, (To dwell in the house of God, to grow in grace there, as a Cedar, to be a ⟨p. 31⟩Tree planted there) from the very nature of grace, which is to unite things to the main; the Spirit of grace sets before the eye of the soul, heavenly spiritual things in their greatness, and excellency: and the Spirit of grace, seeing there are many useful things in this world, it hath an uniting, knitting subordinating power, to rank all things so, as they may agree to, and help the main. Grace confines the soul to one thing: man after his fall sought out many inventions, saith the Wise man: he was not content ⟨p. 32⟩with his condition when he stood, but he sought out many inventions. When man falls to the creature, he knows not where to stay; no creature can afford a stay, and rest, for the soul long, the soul is never quiet till it come to God again, and that is the one thing the soul desireth. The soul being sanctified by the Spirit of God, it subordinates all things to this one thing. David desired many things besides this one thing, but not in that degree, but as they might stand with the desire of this one thing necessary. ⟨p. 33⟩Grace subordinates, and ranks all things, so as that the best things have the preeminence. Therefore he might well say, One thing, from the disposition, that grace hath to rank all things to one. It is a promise in the Covenant of grace, saith God, I will give you one heart, as soon as a man becomes a Christian, he hath one heart, his heart before was divided, there was variety of objects it was set upon, God had the least piece, the flesh had a piece, and this delight, and that delight had a piece: but saith God, I will give you one ⟨p. 34⟩heart, that is, a heart uniting it self in desire to the best things, and regulating all things, so as all shall be but one, that a man shall use the world as though he used it not; so as it shall help to the main. As I said little streams they help the main stream running into it, so grace hath a subordinating power over all things in the world, as they may help the main. One thing have I desired; and I desire other things as they may help the main; Grace will teach us that Art, it hath a special Art that way.
Then thirdly hee sets 1downe this One thing, (To dwell in the house of God, to grow in grace there, as a Cedar, to be a ⟨p. 31⟩Tree planted there) from the very nature of grace, which is to unite things to the mayne; the Spirit of grace sets before the eye of the soule, heavenly spirituall things in their greatnesse, and excellency: and the Spirit of grace, seeing there are many usefull things in this world, it hath an uniting, knitting subordinating power, to rancke all things so, as they may agree to, and helpe the mayne. Grace confines the soule to one thing: man after his fall sought out many inventions, saith the Wise man: he was not content ⟨p. 32⟩with his condition when he stood, but hee sought out many inventions. When man falls to the creature, he knowes not where to stay; no creature can afford a stay, and rest, for the soule long, the soule is never quiet till it come to God againe, and that is the one thing the soule desireth. The soule being sanctified by the Spirit of God, it subordinates all things to this one thing. David desired many things besides this one thing, but not in that degree, but as they might stand with the desire of this one thing necessarie. ⟨p. 33⟩Grace subordinates, and ranckes all things, so as that the best things have the preheminence. Therefore hee might well say, One thing, from the disposition, that grace hath to rancke all things to one. It is a promise in the Covenant of grace, saith God, I will give you one heart, as soone as a man becomes a Christian, he hath one heart, his heart before was divided, there was variety of objects it was set upon, God had the least piece, the slesh had a piece, and this delight, and that delight had a piece: but saith God, I will give you one ⟨p. 34⟩heart, that is, a heart uniting it selfe in desire to the best things, and regulating all things, so as all shall be but one, that a man shall use the world as though hee used it not; so as it shall helpe to the maine. As I sayd little streames they helpe the mayne streame running into it, so grace hath a subordinating power over all things in the world, as they may helpe the mayne. One thing have I desired; and I desire other things as they may helpe the mayne; Grace will teach us that Art, it hath a speciall Art that way.
