10 Be more careful to know the 1fountain from whence all your mercies come, & to have a sanctified use of them when you enjoy them, than to have the possession of them, or delight in them: An ordinary spirit looks at nothing, but only to have the thing it desires, is not solicitous about the fountain from whence they spring, nor careful to attain any sanctified end, to which they ⟨p. 197⟩tend, looks not at them as from God, neither uses them for GOD; but where all these are, here is the work of a choice precious spirit indeed, the peculiar work of it; this is to do more than others, and thus Gods servants must do, or else they can never live convincing lives. While Pharaoh and his Magicians saw, that Moses did no more than they could do, they were not convinced; but when Moses did that which they could not do; then they acknowledged the finger of God: So it is here, while wicked men see those that are religious, do only such things as they could do if they would, as going to Sermons, speaking of good things, they are never convinced by them; but when they fee them do some thing, which their consciences tell them they cannot do, then they are forced to acknowledge, that there is a real excellency in godliness which they have not, as Christ said once, If I had not done those things that no man did, ⟨p. 198⟩they had not had sin, Joh. 15. 24. It aggravated the sin of the Jews, that they did not believe in Christ, notwithstanding he did those works amongst them that no man ever did. So, if godly men did manifest the choiceness of their spirits amongst the men of the world, in doing such as none other can do, this if it did not convert them, and bring them in love with Gods ways, it would certainly much aggravate their sin, and increase their condemnation. It is therefore a most shameful thing, that those who make a great show and profession of godliness, should in their lives be no more than equal unto, yea be lower than others, who are merely Moral; lower than a Socrates, than a Fabritius, than others of the Heathen. How many civill moral men go• beyond them who would be taken for godly? they are more meek, and patient, more courteous, more faithful and trusty, more liberal and helpful, more ingenuous and candid.
10 Be more carefull to know the 1fountain from whence all your mercies come, & to have a sanctified use of them when you enjoy them, than to have the possession of them, or delight in them: An ordinary spirit lookes at nothing, but only to have the thing it desires, is not solicitous about the fountaine from whence they spring, nor carefull to attaine any sanctified end, to which they ⟨p. 197⟩tend, looks not at them as from God, neither uses them for GOD; but where all these are, here is the work of a choice pretious spirit indeed, the peculiar work of it; this is to do more than others, and thus Gods servants must doe, or else they can never live convincing lives. While Pharaoh and his Magicians saw, that Moses did no more than they could doe, they were not convinced; but when Moses did that which they could not doo; then they acknowledged the finger of God: So it is here, while wicked men see those that are religious, doe onely such things as they could doe if they would, as going to Sermons, speaking of good things, they are never convinced by them; but when they fee them do some thing, which their consciences tell them they cannot do, then they are forced to acknowledge, that there is a reall excellencie in godlinesse which they have not, as Christ said once, If I had not done those things that no man did, ⟨p. 198⟩they had not had sinne, Ioh. 15. 24. It aggravated the sinne of the Jewes, that they did not beleeve in Christ, notwithstanding he did those works amongst them that no man ever did. So, if godly men did manifest the choicenesse of their spirits amongst the men of the world, in doing such as none other can doe, this if it did not convert them, and bring them in love with Gods wayes, it would certainly much aggravate their sinne, and increase their condemnation. It is therfore a most shamefull thing, that those who make a great shew and profession of godlinesse, should in their lives be no more than equall unto, yea be lower than others, who are meerly Morall; lower than a Socrates, than a Fabritius, than others of the Heathen. How many civill morall men go• beyond them who would be taken for godly? they are more meeke, and patient, more courteous, more faithfull and trusty, more liberall and helpfull, more ingenuous and candid.
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