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…

First, this difference of their spirits from other men, is a certain ¹sign of the eternal love of God unto them; it comes from the treasure of Gods everlasting love, of that choice special love of God, from the bowels of Gods deepest mercies: ⟨p. 120⟩it is a most infallible argument, that God hath set his heart upon them for good; as for other favours, a man may have them more than other men, yet they are no such but may stand with Gods hatred, and with his eternal wrath: and this is a great difference between spiritual mercies and outward mercies, which sets an exceeding high prize upon spiritual mercies above all others: these are the distinguishing mercies, which others are not. But,

First, this difference of their spirits from other men, is a certaine ¹signe of the eternall love of God unto them; it comes from the treasure of Gods everlasting love, of that choyce speciall love of God, from the bowels of Gods deepest mercies: ⟨p. 120⟩it is a most infallible argument, that God hath set his heart upon them for good; as for other favours, a man may have them more than other men, yet they are no such but may stand with Gods hatred, and with his eternall wrath: and this is a great difference betweene spirituall mercies and outward mercies, which sets an exceeding high prize upon spirituall mercies aboue all others: these are the distinguishing mercies, which others are not. But,

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Secondly, the spirit receiving ¹these spiritual excellencies from Gods choice everlasting love, receives likewise all other mercies from the same fountain; though in their own nature they be common mercies, yet where this other spirit is, there they are received from another Fountain than other men receive them, which adds much sweetness and excellency to the mercies we have; they come as fruits of the common bounty and general goodness of God to ordinary