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…

Thus you see by these several instances in difficult duties, in discountenanced duties, in duties wherein we can see no reason, but a bare command, in duties that seem to be ⟨p. 264⟩small and little, and in duties, wherein if we follow God we must follow him alone; that the soul that follows God fully, will follow him in these, and so by the same reason in all other duties that God shall require, to follow him in: And this is that precious choice spirit we spake of before, which shows it in this, that it is thus willing to follow God fully. You know it is required of us to be perfect, as God himself is perfect, to be holy as God is holy; yea, this the Gospel requires of us; but how can that be? Yes, thus; Gods perfection and holiness is made known to us in his will, in his Commandments; now look how large they are set forth to us in these, so large must our obedience be: though we cannot attain to the degree, yet our hearts must enlarge themselves to the things, to what ever part of Gods will, God makes known his perfection and holiness by. Thy Commandment is very broad, saith David, yet godliness enlargeth the heart to every duty ⟨p. 265⟩it calls for: there is a grace within the soul suitable to every duty the law requires.

Thus you see by these severall instances in difficult duties, in discountenanced duties, in duties wherein we can see no reason, but a bare command, in duties that seeme to be ⟨p. 264⟩small and little, and in duties, wherein if we follow God we must follow him alone; that the soule that followes God fully, will follow him in these, and so by the same reason in all other duties that God shall require, to follow him in: And this is that pretious choice spirit we spake of before, which shewes it in this, that it is thus willing to follow God fully. You know it is requir'd of us to be perfect, as God himself is perfect, to bee holy as God is holy; yea, this the Gospell requires of us; but how can that be? Yes, thus; Gods perfection and holinesse is made known to us in his will, in his Commandements; now look how large they are set forth to us in these, so large must our obedience be: though we cannot attaine to the degree, yet our hearts must inlarge thēselves to the things, to what ever part of Gods will, God makes knowne his perfection and holinesse by. Thy Commandement is very broad, saith David, yet godlinesse inlargeth the heart to every duty