A17286:78
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.
Manasseh was of a bold presumptuous spirit, and exceeding scornful in time of his prosperity; he went on with a high hand against God, as if he meant to contest with heaven it self: but mark in the 2 Chron. 33. 11. when he was brought into trouble, what a poor, base spirit he had: he runs amongst the thorns, he hides himself in the bushes, and from thence he is taken, and bound in Fetters. As it was said of Alexander, it was nothing for him to carry himself bravely, because he always conquered; but for Caesar to behave himself wisely, and to uphold his spirit when he was conquered, and others fainted; this was an high praise unto him. You talk of merry hearts and joyful spirits, but can you be joyful in affliction? will your spirits hold out in tribulation? Can you rejoice in the greatest troubles? ⟨p. 40⟩Will your comforts hold out in sore and grievous distresses? this were a sign of strength of spirit indeed. The spirit of a man can sustain his infirmity, saith Solomon. This is the strength of a mans spirit, to be able to carry it self bravely, undauntedly in the middest of greatest afflictions; your spirits can bear nothing, they are childish, poor weak spirits, not to be accounted the spirits of men. Lactantius boasts of the braveness 1of the spirits of the Martyrs in his time, in this respect; Our children and women (not to speak of men) do in silence overcome their tormentors and the fire cannot fetch so much as a sigh from them.
Manasseh was of a bold presumptuous spirit, and exceeding scornfull in time of his prosperity; he went on with a high hand against God, as if he meant to contest with heaven it selfe: but marke in the 2 Chron. 33. 11. when he was brought into trouble, what a poore, base spirit he had: he runnes amongst the thornes, he hides himselfe in the bushes, and from thence he is taken, and bound in Fetters. As it was said of Alexander, it was nothing for him to carry himselfe bravely, because he alwayes conquered; but for Caesar to behave himselfe wisely, and to uphold his spirit when he was conquered, and others fainted; this was an high praise unto him. You talke of merry hearts and joyfull spirits, but can you be joyfull in affliction? will your spirits hold out in tribulation? Can you rejoyce in the greatest troubles?