An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

As therefore the spiritual man, when in outward miseries and straights is ⟨p. 132⟩not so much grieved under those outward calamities, as because he hath sinned, and God is offended: So neither in outward mercies is the same gracious soul, so much affected with the comforts it enjoyeth, as that the light of Gods countenance doth shine upon him, that he hath an evidence of propriety and interest in Christ, this he would not lose for all the Kingdoms of the world. Let us press this the more, because even the most holy are apt to be affected more with sensible mercies than spiritual; Nature teacheth them the one, but Grace the other. For as we are apt to desire temporal things above spiritual, so also to be affected with, and bless God for one more than another.

But take these few Motives to provoke thee to bless God for spiritual mercies, ¹which are of two sorts, External, as the means of grace, and the Ordinances; or Internal, the inward sanctification and justification of our persons. As

1. 1Motives to be more affected with spiritnal mercies than temporal.

1. That if thou hadst more mercies than Solomon, if thou hadst all thy soul can desire in these outward things, yet if without spiritual mercies thou judgest thy condition is cursed, and to be lamented. Therefore Psal. 4. when the natural persons of the world cried out, Who will show us any good? David, as knowing a better and more solid good, prayeth, God would lift up the light of his countenance upon him: And therefore he that hath the least drop of grace, is more bound to bless God, then he that may have all the glory and plenty in the world: Oh then, why art thou not more solicitous, saying, what is this wealth without Gods favour? What is it to say, this house is mine, this estate is mine, but am not able to say, God is mine? but if God doth evidence himself to thee, then over-look all thy outward comforts, put the Ecce, the Selah, upon what is spiritual. This is like the Sun, which is far above all the Stars. It is this that makes all outward mercies, mercies; they are no ways good to thee, but snares and temptations to draw out thy sins. So that thy condemnation in hell will be the hotter, if thou doest not enjoy spiritual mercies with them.