Spiritual refining

Secondly, By rejoicing and delighting in other mens godliness and abilities whereby ¹the Kingdom of God is advanced, though it be an umbrage and over shadowing of all our glory, though we be laid aside and accounted as no body. As in the sweetest fruit sometimes worms do grow; so in the choicest Christians there will be envies, emulations and repinings at one another's excellencies. Thus the Disciples of Christ did twice strive about greatness, Johns Disciples muttered because all run after Christ; but how graciously doth John deal with them, I must decrease and he increase. So that this love of the Brethren is a more spiritual and difficult work then we are aware off. Thou lovest a godly man that liveth remote from ⟨p. 100⟩thee, but how art thou to one that is thy neighbour of the same profession and calling? now it may be the eminency of his graces and worth carrieth away the esteem and repute from thee, Canst thou for all this rejoice in his graces and abilities, praise God for him, and so that his glory be advanced, thou carest not though God lay thee aside, as a broken vessel? This is a good symptom of grace. Oh (Beloved) if we consider the jealousies, heart-burnings, contentions, envyings, strifes that are among the godly, Doth not this demonstrate that they are in a great measure carnal? Are not most of these contentions from the flesh, who shall have most power, whose way shall have most followers and admirers? Whereas true love to godliness manifesteth it self in this, that it rejoiceth in the graces of others, praiseth God for them. It is an high sin to make godliness a faction, a party, as that whereby I will have carnal advantages. The Apostle contradicteth this, when he saith, We know no man, no not Christ himself after the flesh. By reason of this self-pleasing it is that at last we enclose godliness, and monopolize it to our own selves, that none shall be godly but those in our way. Thus the Donatists would call no men Christians but themselves. Thus Tertullian, when he turned Montanist, pretending to Revelations of the Spirit, wrote a book against the Orthodox, which he called Adversus Psychicos, as if they all were but carnal, and natural men. Thus many rigid Lutherans dispute the Question, Whether Calvinists may be reckoned as Brethren, and they determine negatively. Take we heed therefore, how we envy the graces of others that overtop us.

Secondly, By rejoycing and delighting in other mens godlinesse and abilities whereby