A17286:345
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…
The excellency of a gracious spirit Delivered in a treatise upon the 14. of Numbers, verse 24. By Jer. Burroughs minister of Gods Word.The excellency of a gracious spirit Deliuered in a treatise upon the 14. of Numbers, verse 24. By Ier. Burroughes minister of Gods Word.
London: printed by Miles for R. Dawlman, 1639
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
There are three Reasons why it must needs be, that, that man which follows God fully, must needs follow him constantly and for ever.
There are three Reasons why it must needs be, that, that man which followes God fully, must needs follow him constantly and for ever.
First, because where ever the Lord 1brings any to follow him fully, he causeth such a perfect breach between sin and that soul, as there is no possibility that ever there should be a reconciliation made, that the breach should be made up again. An unsound heart so falls out with his sin, as there is a possibility of reconcilement, and therefore when such a one finds trouble in Gods service, he is willing to enter into parley again, upon terms of agreement with his sin; but it is not so with a truly godly heart; there is such a breach made, as there is no hope of reconciliation. It was Achitophels policy to get Absalom to stick to him, so as never to leave him. To take away the fear that there might be, lest Absalom in time might be reconciled to his father, and so leave him, therefore he sought to ⟨p. 305⟩make such a breach between him and his father, as there should never be any hope of reconciliation, and so he might be the surer to keep constant to him, and the people that joined with him, and therefore he advised, that Absalom should go in to his fathers Concubines upon the house top, in the sight of all the people, 2 Sam. 16. 21, 22. It is the wisdom of God, that he may have followers never to leave him; to make such breaches between sin and their souls at first, so as there may never be hope of peace between them again. As the Devil when he would draw one to be his for ever, he seeks to make great breaches between God and him, that if he should have ever any thoughts of returning, he may discourage and sink his spirit with thoughts of despair, telling him there is no hope of good in returning that way, and therefore it were better for him to continue as he is, as