But fifthly, and principally, these other spirits are most honourable 1creatures indeed, because they are reserved for other mercies; GOD gives common mercies to common ⟨p. 123⟩spirits, but he reserves his choice mercies for choice spirits. With the pure, thou wilt show thy self pure, saith David, in the 2 Sam. 22. 27. The words are, with the choice thou 2wilt show thy self choice. Abraham gave Ishmael and Hagar a bottle of water and a few raisins, and sent them away; but the inheritance was reserved for Isaac. So God gives to other men a few ordinary mercies, but his glorious mercies he reserves for these peculiar ones: and, as it is said of Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. 21. 3. he gave his other sons great gifts of silver, gold, precious things, fenced Cities, but the Kingdom he gave to Jehoram, because he was the first borne: So God gives these outward mercies to other men, but the mercies of his Kingdom, are reserved for these men of choice spirits, who are the first borne, the chief and most excellent of all Gods creatures in this world. Now we are the sons of God, saith S. John, but it appears not what we shall be; there is more to come ⟨p. 124⟩hereafter, they have not spirits that will be satisfied with the things of this world, and therefore are not as ordinary men, who have their portion in the things of this world. God delights to fill the capacities of all his creatures with suitable good; now these other spirits, by that choice excellency of them, are made capable of far higher mercies than the world can afford; they must be the good things of another world that can fill them, and those are reserved for them. The bodies of the Saints, because they are joined to such precious souls, shall be like the glory of the Sun, yea, excel in glory. How glorious then shall their souls be, for whose sake their bodies shall be thus glorious? We look upon great heirs, who have great inheritances to come, with high esteem, though they have little for the present: These are the great heirs of heaven, Coheirs with Jesus Christ himself; these they are, who are delivered from the wrath to come ⟨p. 125⟩and to be made partakers of the glory that is to be revealed. The Lord gives them no great matters in comparison now, because he hath reserved so much for them afterwards.
But fifthly, and principally, these other spirits are most honourable 1creatures indeed, because they are reserved for other mercies; GOD gives common mercies to common ⟨p. 123⟩spirits, but hee reserves his choice mercies for choice spirits. With the pure, thou wilt shew thy selfe pure, saith David, in the 2 Sam. 22. 27. The words are, with the choice thou 2wilt shew thy selfe choice. Abraham gave Ishmael and Hagar a bottle of water and a few raisins, and sent them away; but the inheritance was reserved for Isaac. So God gives to other men a few ordinary mercies, but his glorious mercies hee reserves for these peculiar ones: and, as it is said of Iehosaphat, 2 Chron. 21. 3. he gave his other sonnes great gifts of silver, gold, precious things, fenced Cities, but the Kingdome he gave to Iehoram, because he was the first borne: So God gives these outward mercies to other men, but the mercies of his Kingdome, are reserved for these men of choice spirits, who are the first borne, the chiefe and most excellent of all Gods creatures in this world. Now we are the sonnes of God, saith S. Iohn, but it appeares not what wee shall bee; there is more to come ⟨p. 124⟩hereafter, they have not spirits that will be satisfied with the things of this world, and therefore are not as ordinary men, who have their portion in the things of this world. God delights to fill the capacities of all his creatures with sutable good; now these other spirits, by that choice excellency of them, are made capable of farre higher mercies than the world can afford; they must be the good things of another world that can fill them, and those are reserved for them. The bodies of the Saints, because they are joyned to such pretious soules, shall be like the glory of the Sunne, yea, excell in glory. How glorious then shall their souls be, for whose sake their bodies shall bee thus glorious? Wee look upon great heires, who have great inheritances to come, with high esteeme, though they have little for the present: These are the great heires of heaven, Coheires with Iesus Christ himselfe; these they are, who are delivered from the wrath to come ⟨p. 125⟩and to be made partakers of the glory that is to be revealed. The Lord gives them no great matters in comparison now, because hee hath reserved so much for them afterwards.
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- 2Electis.
