The excellency of a gracious spirit Delivered in a treatise upon the 14. of…The excellency of a gracious spirit Deliuered in a treatise upon the 14. of…

If I were sure to hold out, to have at last that which I desire, then I would venture upon the ways of godliness; but I am afraid it will never be: and so sinks, and hath no mind to set upon the work. But this spirit will set upon the work with all the hazards, as Ester, If I perish, I perish; this was a brave spirit indeed. If she had had such a base cowardly spirit as many, to think, Alas what good shall I do? I may hazard my self, and bring my self into trouble, but no likelihood of any good will come of it: she is content to venture all, upon a mere possibility of good; To break through armies of difficulties, as Davids Worthies showed the excellency of their spirits, in breaking through an Host to gratify their Lord. If the Worthies of God in former times, had stood upon every difficulty, what had been done in Gods cause? No, this spirit sets upon that which ⟨p. 67⟩God calls it to, doth what it can, and leaves it self, and the issue of its work to God, as Joab 2 Sam. 10. 12. Let us play the men for our people, and for the Cities of our God, and the Lord do that which seemeth him good: It was a brave speech of him, that showed an excellent brave spirit in him.

If I were sure to hold out, to have at last that which I desire, then I would venture upon the wayes of godlines; but I am afraid it will never be: and so sinks, and hath no mind to set upon the work. But this spirit will set upon the worke with all the hazards, as Ester, If I perish, I perish; this was a brave spirit indeed. If she had had such a base cowardly spirit as many, to think, Alas what good shall I do? I may hazard my selfe, and bring my selfe into trouble, but no likelihood of any good will come of it: she is content to venture all, upon a meere possibility of good; To breake thorow armies of difficulties, as Davids Worthies shewed the excellency of their spirits, in breaking thorow an Hoste to gratifie their Lord. If the Worthies of God in former times, had stood upon every difficulty, what had been done in Gods cause? No, this spirit sets upon that which ⟨p. 67⟩God cals it to, doth what it can, and leaves it self, and the issue of its work to God, as Ioab 2 Sam. 10. 12. Let us play the men for our people, and for the Cities of our God, and the Lord do that which seemeth him good: It was a brave speech of him, that shewed an excellent brave spirit in him.