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…

I answer, It is true, if men covenant and wilfully neglect, they were better not covenant at all; but if when we enter into covenant, we have the testimony of our consciences, that we labour as in the sight of God, to fulfil our covenants we make, and it is the burden of our souls that we sail in them, then I say, that we are still to go on, and engage our selves further; our covenants do not aggravate our sin, but in time they will help us against our sin; this is one way that God hath appointed to strengthen us; and therefore, we must not complain of weakness, and yet neglect any way appointed by GOD, to get strength by.

I answer, It is true, if men covenant and wilfully neglect, they were better not covenant at all; but if when wee enter into covenant, wee have the testimony of our consciences, that we labour as in the sight of God, to fulfill our covenants wee make, and it is the burthen of our soules that we saile in them, then I say, that wee are still to goe on, and engage our selves further; our covenants doe not aggravate our sinne, but in time they will help us against our sinne; this is one way that God hath appointed to strengthen us; and therefore, wee must not complaine of weaknesse, and yet neglect any way appointed by GOD, to get strength by.

10 To follow God fully, is to abide ¹in all these constant to the end of our days; That is, we must be constant in Gods ways, not think it enough to enter into them by fits and starts, but the ways of God must be our ordinary track, Prov. 16. 17. The high way of the upright is to depart ⟨p. 303⟩from evil; It is his common road, and constant course: and we must continue faithful before the Lord unto the death. It is the commendation of Hezekiah 2 King. 8. 6. He clave unto the Lord and departed not. And David,