IF God hath been merciful to you, in giving you another spirit, improve this mercy; show in all your ways that you are acted by another spirit: let the renewed spirit guide you, let the beauty and excellency of it appear: If we live in the spirit, let us walk in the spirit, says the Apostle, Gal. 5. 25. The works of the flesh are manifest, Gal. 5. 19. Why should not the works of the spirit be so too? God hath beautified your spirits with his own Image, in this he hath honoured you, that you might honour him, in holding forth the beauty and excellency of his Image; he hath made you a peculiar people, to that end that you might show forth the virtues of him, who ⟨p. 180⟩hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2. 9. It is a dishonour to a parent, or any special friend, to hang his picture in some dark hole, in some obscure contemptible place; it is expected we should make it conspicuous, that we should hang it in some eminent place, so as to manifest that we rejoice in it, as an ornament to us. It is a great evil to obscure the Graces of Gods Spirit, to keep in the work of God upon our spirits, in which he hath set out the glory of his own Image, to that end, that he might be glorified in us before men & Angels. Every man delights in the expression of that, wherein he esteems his excellency to consist, be it Eloquence, Wisdom, or any Art, wherein he hath attained any eminency; yea, if he accounts his excellency to consist in his riches, in his honour, in his beauty, he loves to make them appear before others; as the Prophet in another case, Esa. 60. 1. Arise and shine, for the light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen ⟨p. 181⟩upon thee. If God hath shined upon your spirits by his grace, let your lights shine before men, that the world may see, there are men of other spirits, who can do such things as they cannot. Oh what beautiful, convincing conversations would men live, if they were only acted by this renewed spirit! As it was said of Steven, they could not resist the Spirit by which he spake; so it would be true here, men could not resist that spirit by which you live. What do you more than other men? says Christ to his Disciples, Matt. 5. 47. Men of other spirits must manifest in their lives, that they can do more than other men.
IF God hath beene mercifull to you, in giving you another spirit, improve this mercy; shew in all your wayes that you are acted by another spirit: let the renewed spirit guide you, let the beauty and excellency of it appeare: If wee live in the spirit, let us walke in the spirit, sayes the Apostle, Gal. 5. 25. The works of the flesh are manifest, Gal. 5. 19. Why should not the works of the spirit be so too? God hath beautified your spirits with his owne Image, in this hee hath honoured you, that you might honour him, in holding forth the beauty and excellency of his Image; he hath made you a peculiar people, to that end that you might shew forth the vertues of him, who ⟨p. 180⟩hath called you out of darknes into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2. 9. It is a dishonor to a parent, or any special friend, to hang his picture in some dark hole, in some obscure contemptible place; it is expected we should make it conspicuous, that we should hang it in some eminent place, so as to manifest that wee rejoyce in it, as an ornament to us. It is a great evill to obscure the Graces of Gods Spirit, to keepe in the work of God upon our spirits, in which hee hath set out the glory of his owne Image, to that end, that he might be glorified in us before men & Angels. Every man delights in the expression of that, wherin he esteems his excellency to consist, be it Eloquence, Wisdom, or any Art, wherin he hath attained any eminency; yea, if he accounts his excellency to consist in his riches, in his honor, in his beautie, he loves to make them appear before others; as the Prophet in another case, Esa. 60. 1. Arise and shine, for the light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen ⟨p. 181⟩upon thee. If God hath shined upon your spirits by his grace, let your lights shine before men, that the world may see, there are men of other spirits, who can doe such things as they cannot. Oh what beautifull, convincing cōversations would men live, if they were onely acted by this renewed spirit! As it was said of Steven, they could not resist the Spirit by which he spake; so it would be true here, men could not resist that spirit by which you live. What doe you more than other men? sayes Christ to his Disciples, Matt. 5. 47. Men of other spirits must manifest in their lives, that they can do more than other men.
