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…

It may be this is indeed, may some think, in those who are eminent in grace, upon whom God hath bestowed a great measure of his Spirit; but is this in every one that hath any truth? Wherefore for answer let us know, there is this perfection, or else there is no truth at all; only remember, I do not speak now of the perfection of degrees; in this consists the right straightness of a mans heart. A straight line will touch with another straight line in every point, but a crooked line will not, it toucheth but only here & there in some: so straight hearts will join with Gods law in every part, but crooked and perverse hearts, only in some, only so far as may serve their own turns. In this consists the true plainness of a mans spirit: you know, plain things will join likewise in every point one with another, but round and rugged things will not: so proud, ⟨p. 266⟩swollen hearts, and rugged spirits will not close fully with Gods truths; but where there is plainness of spirit, there is a full closing, a thorough union. There is a great dangerous mistake about this point, which yet is a general mistake; multitudes of people miscarry everlastingly upon this mistake; they think because we cannot in this life attain to the perfection of holiness in the degrees, therefore there is no perfection at all necessary, but that they may be saved without it: they think therefore that if they do some good things, if they obey some Commandments, it is sufficient, though they take liberty to themselves in other things; they find they can yield in something; yet other things of Gods will are exceedingly unsuitable unto them. Be convinced of your mistake herein: a godly man indeed is weak, and cannot attain to the performance of every part of Gods will, but the frame of his heart is to every part; every part is suitable to his spirit: He ⟨p. 267⟩esteems all the Precepts of God concerning all things to be right, and he hates every false way. He finds the Law of God in the latitude of it, ¹written in his heart; there is no command of God that is not dearer to him than all the world. Mark that place in Job, Chap. 8. verse 20. God will not cast away the perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: The perfect man is opposed to the evil doers, who shall be cast away.