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…

A discovery to the men of the world, whereby they may see that their spirits are not like the spirits of godly men.

Hence let the men of the world see, there is a great difference between their spirits, & the spirits of the godly. There are men indeed of excellent spirits, God hath such in the world, in whom he delights, with whom he converses, whom he employs in high and excellent services: but you are of base, sordid, unclean spirits; the spirit of whoredom, of lying, stubbornness, vanity, folly is in you; your spirits drossy, sensual, froward, malicious, profane, sleight, empty, unsavoury, unfaithful, perverse: What delight can the Lord, who is an infinite, holy, glorious Spirit, take in such? How far are these from any communion with God? No marvel though nothing of God, or any ⟨p. 108⟩spiritual thing be savoury to them. Oh the corrupt principles that mens spirits are possessed with, the corrupt rules they go by, and corrupt ends they have in what they do! the base employments they put their spirits to, the noisome distempers of them, and base comforts they feed upon! The heart of the wicked is little worth, says the Scripture, Pro. 10. 20. Perhaps your Lands, your houses may be something worth, but what are your hearts worth? they are worth nothing, full of chaff and dross; like children's pockets, full of stones and dirt, while the spirits of the godly are Store-houses of most choice and precious treasures.

HEnce let the men of the world see, there is a great difference between their spirits, & the spirits of the godly. There are men indeed of excellent spirits, God hath such in the world, in whom he delights, with whom he converses, whom he employes in high and excellent services: but you are of base, sordid, uncleane spirits; the spirit of whoredome, of lying, stubbornnesse, vanity, folly is in you; your spirits drossie, sensuall, froward, malicious, profane, sleight, empty, unsavory, unfaithfull, perverse: What delight can the Lord, who is an infinite, holy, glorious Spirit, take in such? How farre are these from any communion with God? No marvell though nothing of God, or any