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…

We read of many, who were very eminent in moral excellencies, and yet altogether strangers from the life of grace. As for example, Josephus lib. 15. c. 8. reports of Herod the King, that which would make one think, he was raised to very high moral excellencies: once making a speech to his Army, amongst other passages he hath this; Perhaps some men will say, that right and equity is on our side, but that the greater number of men, and means are with the other; but this their speech is unworthy of my followers: for with those with whom justice is, with those also God is, and where God is, there neither wants multitude, nor fortitude. And ⟨p. 223⟩Cap. 12. he reports of him, that in the time of a famine, he caused all his vessels of gold and silver to be melted, to buy corn withal for the relief of the poor. That Herod likewise which S. Luke speaks of in the 12. Acts 23. who was smote by the Angel, and eaten of worms, yet even this man had many excellent moral gifts: Josephus reports of him, That he was a man of a most mild ¹disposition, ready to help those which were in adversity, free from outward gross defilements, and that there was no day past him, in which he did not offer Sacrifice; and for a testimony of his mild & gentle temper, he tells a notable story of him, that when one Simon a Lawyer, in his absence, had scandalized him with many grievous accusations before the people; As that he was a profane man, and that upon just cause he was forbidden to enter the Temple: when Herod was certified of these things, and came to the Theatre, he commanded that this Simon ⟨p. 224⟩should be brought to him, and would have him sit down next to him, and in peaceable and kind manner he spake thus to him, Tell me, I prithee, what thing thou seest fault-worthy, or contrary to the Law in me? This Simon not having any thing to answer, besought him to pardon him; the King grew friends with him, and dismissed him, bestowing gifts on him. What a shame is this example to many Christians? and yet we would all be loath to be in this mans condition. It is reported likewise of Titus, whom God made a grievous scourge to the Jews, yet he was so meek, so liberal, so merciful, of so mild and sweet a nature, that he was usually called, The love and delights of