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, These mercies are prepared mercies, prepared before the foundations ¹of the world were laid, and again prepared by Jesus Christ, who is gone before to heaven to that end, as he tells us himself, To prepare Mansions for us, John 14. 1. Now this is spoken after the manner ⟨p. 126⟩of men, who do not use to make long and great preparations but for some great work in hand: Surely, these mercies must needs be great, which the wisdom, power, and mercy of God, hath been from all eternity preparing.

First, These mercies are prepared mercies, prepared before the foundations ¹of the world were laid, and againe prepared by Iesus Christ, who is gone before to heaven to that end, as hee tels us himselfe, To prepare Mansions for us, Iohn 14. 1. Now this is spoken after the manner ⟨p. 126⟩of men, who do not use to make long and great preparations but for some great worke in hand: Surely, these mercies must needs be great, which the wisedome, power, and mercy of God, hath been from all eternity preparing.

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Secondly, They are other mercies, than Adam, than Man-kind ¹should have had, than they could have attained unto, if he had stood in his innocency. Man indeed should then have been for ever happy, but not according to that height of happiness, and glory that now is provided for those, who are the beloved of the Lord.