A17286:252
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…
The excellency of a gracious spirit Delivered in a treatise upon the 14. of Numbers, verse 24. By Jer. Burroughs minister of Gods Word.The excellency of a gracious spirit Deliuered in a treatise upon the 14. of Numbers, verse 24. By Ier. Burroughes minister of Gods Word.
London: printed by Miles for R. Dawlman, 1639
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
An Exhortation to labour to get this excellent spirit.
IT is an use of Exhortation; let us labour to get this other spirit; Every one desires to be eminent, to be above others in estate, in esteem, in natural excellencies; if we would fain be eminent, let us labour to be eminent in spiritual ⟨p. 201⟩blessings, in getting our souls endued with higher spiritual excellencies than others have. It is commendable to strive to be as eminent here as we can, especially you whom God hath raised higher than your brethren in other things; in the Nobility of your births, the eminency of your places, the greatness of your estates: Do you labour to be as high above others in the excellencies of your spirits; that as your birth is other, your places other, your estate other than common mens, so your spirits may be other spirits? What an excellent thing is it, to have a spirit suitable to ones condition? A great 1mind becomes a great fortune, says Seneca. He means greatness of mind in the exercise of virtue, which only gives a true greatness to the mind. I know this is a powerful argument with you, to make grace lovely & desirable in your eyes, to tell you that it will raise your spirits, that it will put beauty and glory upon them, that it will add greatness and excellency ⟨p. 202⟩to them. The world is much for brave and Noble spirits; we desire your spirits may be so: only mistake not the true Nobleness, the true excellency of spirit; certainly it is in that which may bring you nearest to God, the highest excellency: You can no way be so honourable, as by the raising of your spirits by grace: Wisdom with an inheritance is good, wisdom with birth and eminency of place is a great blessing indeed; to be rich in goods, and rich in goodness, is a happy connection. You would account it a great disgrace not to have education somewhat suitable to your birth and quality; what can be said more dishonourable of a man than this, He hath left him indeed a great estate, and is of a great house, but he hath no breeding? What? is a competent measure of knowledge, in tongues, and