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…

A generous spirit strives to be abundant in doing good, and leaves it self with God, let God do with him what seems good in his eyes; it doth not maintain jealous, suspicious thoughts of God, as if it were best to provide for it self, and not dare to venture upon God: Base unworthy spirits discover themselves much in this; they will part with nothing, but first will see what they shall have; they must have present pay, be sure of it in the hand; they are jealous and suspicious of every one, they are conscious to themselves of baseness this way, and therefore look upon all others, as if there were ⟨p. 54⟩only for themselves too: but a generous spirit finds in it self a disposition ready to do good to others, though they can do little for him; yet if they need, and he able, he finds he can freely, and readily do it; and this makes him to venture upon others, that they will likewise out of freedom and generousness, be helpful to him, if occasion, if need serve, though they should not receive recompense from him: and therefore he is not ready to entertain jealous & suspicious thoughts, as other baser spirits do. Thus in respect of God, he knows God is infinitely good, and blessed in himself; and that he out of his own infinite goodness is ready to do good, and help those in want, who are able to do little again in way of requital; but that he for his Names sake, shows mercy and loving-kindness to his poor creatures, because Mercy pleases him; and therefore he can venture himself upon God.

A generous spirit strives to be abundant in doing good, and leaves it selfe with God, let God doe with him what seemes good in his eyes; it doth not maintain jealous, suspicious thoughts of God, as if it were best to provide for it selfe, and not dare to venture upon God: Base unworthy spirits discover themselves much in this; they will part with nothing, but first will see what they shall have; they must have present pay, bee sure of it in the hand; they are jealous and suspicious of every one, they are conscious to themselves of basenesse this way, and therefore look upon all others, as if there were ⟨p. 54⟩onely for themselves too: but a generous spirit findes in it selfe a disposition ready to doe good to others, though they can doe little for him; yet if they need, and he able, he finds hee can freely, and readily doe it; and this makes him to venture upon others, that they will likewise out of freedome and generousnesse, bee helpfull to him, if occasion, if need serve, though they should not receive recompence from him: and therefore he is not ready to entertaine jealous & suspicious thoughts, as other baser spirits doe. Thus in respect of God, hee knowes God is infinitely good, and blessed in himselfe; and that he out of his own infinite goodnesse is ready to doe good, and helpe those in want, who are able to doe little againe in way of requitall; but that he for his Names sake, shewes mercy and loving-kindnesse to his poore creatures, because Mercy pleases him; and therfore he can venture himselfe upon God.