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…

First, some of Gods paths may be mercy to other men, but not all; or some particular acts of God, rather than his paths: God doth not ordinarily go on in a track and course of his mercies with them, as he doth with his people: As their obedience is only in some particular acts, and no continued course; so Gods mercy to them, which comes from his general bounty, is manifested only in some particular acts of his, and not in any constant course. But it is otherwise in his dealings towards his people; they go on in a constant course of obedience; they make Gods Commandments their paths, and therefore God goes on in a constant course of loving kindness towards them, he makes his mercy to them the ordinary paths wherein he walks: As, Psalm. 36. 10. O continue thy loving kindness to them that know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. The word in the Original, ⟨p. 372⟩is, Draw out thy loving kindness. Gods mercies to his own, are a continued Series, they are drawn out from a constant Spring, they come forth from a never-failing Fountain; there is a connection between one mercy and another; but as for others, God now and then only casts his favours on them.

First, some of Gods pathes may be mercy to other men, but not all; or some particular acts of God, rather than his pathes: God doth not ordinarily goe on in a track and course of his mercies with them, as hee doth with his people: As their obedience is onely in some particular acts, and no continued course; so Gods mercy to them, which comes from his generall bounty, is manifested onely in some particular acts of his, and not in any constant course. But it is otherwise in his dealings towards his people; they goe on in a constant course of obediēce; they make Gods Commandements their pathes, and therefore God goes on in a constant course of loving kindnesse towards them, hee makes his mercy to them the ordinary pathes wherein hee walkes: As, Psalm. 36. 10. O continue thy loving kindnesse to them that know thee, and thy righteousnesse to the upright in heart. The word in the Originall, ⟨p. 372⟩is, Draw out thy loving kindnesse. Gods mercies to his owne, are a continued Series, they are drawne out from a constant Spring, they come forth from a never-failing Fountaine; there is a connexion betweene one mercy and another; but as for others, God now and then onely casts his favours on them.