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…

When the heart of a man is filled with divine truths, it is not the presence of men in highest place can daunt it. Elisha had a double portion of the spirit of Elijah; and did the greatness, or wickedness of Jehoram daunt him? There appeared a Deity in his very speech and spirit, 2 Kings 3. 14. As the Lord of Hosts liveth before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, I would not look towards thee, nor see thee. He had a fullness of Gods Spirit in him, that could speak thus to one of the gods on earth. When a mans heart is filled with divine influence, he fears not the enemies of goodness, neither ⟨image 10⟩is ashamed of ought accompanies godliness, 2 Tim. 1. 7, 8. God hath given us the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind; be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony, &c. When the power of God is in a mans spirit, he will not be ashamed of the Cross, nor refuse to share in the afflictions of the Gospel. It is the honour of Religion, to have such Disciples as will own her, and stand for her at all times, and that with an undaunted courage, Acts 4. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost, and said; Be it known unto you all, and all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man here stand before you whole; this is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, &c. And after when he and John were commanded silence; what said they? Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than God, judge ye; for we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard. It is a brand upon Nicodemus that he came to Christ by night; and so of the chief Rulers that believed on him, but because of the Pharisees did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the Synagogues: but it was Nicodemus praise, for that he had got boldness to speak for Christ, when vilified, though himself suffered reproach for it: this showed some excellency and growth in his spirit, that he could both speak and suffer for Christ. So ⟨image 11⟩Joseph of Arimathea was timorous at