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, you had need of other spirits; more need than others for the improvement of those great mercies that you have above others. As some fowl that have great wings, yet can fly but little; so many men have great estates, but not having spirits to improve them, they are of little use. Know, that your estates are either mercies or miseries, blessings or cursings to you, according as you have hearts to improve them: if they be improved for God, as advantages to honour God by, to do good withal; they are then great blessings ⟨p. 205⟩indeed: and that is as great an argument of the truth of grace, as any, to be as earnest with God for an heart to improve an estate, or a place of dignity for God, as to rejoice that ¹you have such an estate for your selves, or that you are in such an eminent place, whereby you may get honour to your selves. Where God gives not a more excellent spirit than others, as well as an higher condition than others; there an eminent estate is made but as fuel for a nourisher and maintainer of all manner of evil, to afford opportunities for acting of sin; and is not this the excellency that many account to be in their estates, in that it is higher than others, in that they can have their wills, and satisfy their lusts more than others?

First, you had need of other spirits; more need than others for the improvement of those great mercies that you have above others. As some fowle that have great wings, yet can flie but little; so many men have great estates, but not having spirits to improve them, they are of little use. Know, that your estates are either mercies or miseries, blessings or cursings to you, according as you have hearts to improve them: if they be improved for God, as advantages to honour God by, to doe good withall; they are then great blessings ⟨p. 205⟩indeed: and that is as great an argument of the truth of grace, as any, to be as earnest with God for an heart to improve an estate, or a place of dignitie for God, as to rejoyce that ¹you have such an estate for your selves, or that you are in such an eminent place, whereby you may get honour to your selves. Where God gives not a more excellent spirit than others, as well as an higher condition than others; there an eminent estate is made but as fewell for a nourisher and maintainer of all manner of evill, to afford opportunities for acting of sinne; and is not this the excellencie that many account to be in their estates, in that it is higher than others, in that they can have their wils, and satisfie their lusts more than others?