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…

Never wonder then, or be offended, to see so many to fall off from ¹God; few men have choice spirits; those who are godly expect no other from most professors, and therefore they are not troubled when they see this fall out; They went out from us, because they were not of us, saith the Apostle. Wicked men are offended, because they know not what the ⟨p. 421⟩work of grace means; and hence, if they see a man make profession of Religion, they make no difference, as though there were as much to be expected from him, as from another; as though the cause of God fell when he fell; no such matter; If you see mens spirits proud, slight, earthly, sensual, or carried with a greater violence than their principles will bear; I do not mean, though their affections may sometimes go beyond their knowledge; but by principles I mean, the rooted graces of God in their hearts, as one may perceive in some, there are not graces rooted suitable to their expressions, & outward ways; and when you see not an evenness in the ways of men, then never expect from them any full following the Lord: and if they fall off, be not troubled, let it be no more than you made account of before-hand would be.

Never wonder then, or bee offended, to see so many to fall off from ¹God; few men have choice spirits; those who are godly expect no other from most professors, and therefore they are not troubled when they see this fall out; They went out from us, because they were not of us, saith the Apostle. Wicked men are offended, because they know not what the ⟨p. 421⟩worke of grace meanes; and hence, if they see a man make profession of Religion, they make no difference, as though there were as much to be expected from him, as from another; as though the cause of God fell when he fell; no such matter; If you see mens spirits proud, slight, earthly, sensuall, or carried with a greater violence than their principles will beare; I doe not meane, though their affections may sometimes goe beyond their knowledge; but by principles I meane, the rooted graces of God in their hearts, as one may perceive in some, there are not graces rooted sutable to their expressions, & outward wayes; and when you see not an evennesse in the wayes of men, then never expect from them any full following the Lord: and if they fall off, be not troubled, let it be no more than you made account of before-hand would be.