The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

8. If it be Faith that brings thee from this way, certainly thou wilt grow more Spiritual: As thy heart will pant after Christ; so there will be a Spiritualness of thy Soul in the ways of Christ, because thou comest nearer to the rule: And this is the difference between ⟨p. 214⟩Actions of Religion, and civil Actions; civil Actions that are done by civil rule have not always success, but a Spiritual Action that is done by the rule, that hath a Spiritual success, though not an outward success, it does make the heart ever more Spiritual: But for people though they be come from the yoke of Antichrist, yet to be as dead as ever no more Spiritualness in their way then before, no more savour of Godliness in their society and company then before: those that knew them before can say; I knew them a great deal more spiritual and savoury in that which is good then they are now, This is a dangerous thing.

8. If it be Faith that brings thee from this way, certainly thou wilt grow more Spirituall: As thy heart will pant after Christ; so there wil be a Spiritualness of thy Soul in the waies of Christ, because thou comest neerer to the rule: And this is the difference between ⟨p. 214⟩Actions of Religion, and civil Actions; civil Actions that are done by civil rule have not alwaies success, but a Spirituall Action that is done by the rule, that hath a Spirituall success, though not an outward success, it does make the heart ever more Spirituall: But for people though they be come from the yoake of Antichrist, yet to be as dead as ever no more Spiritualness in their way then before, no more savour of Godliness in their society and company then before: those that knew them before can say; I knew them a great deale more spirituall and savoury in that which is good then they are now, This is a dangerous thing.

9. Again, If it be out of Faith, such a one will give all the glory unto God for his deliverance, and he will walk humbly in his own eyes, and think, I was disobedient, and wretched and should have gone on in that way, but God by his grace and power hath come, and hath taken off my heart, and it does magnify the grace of God; It doth not perk up it self, and contemn others, to think I have got more wisdom, and understanding then others, and so attribute it to his wit, and understanding; but it gives the glory to God, and instead of censuring others, he prays for them, and says it is not all the arguments under Heaven can convince them, for I had arguments enough, but they were all as nothing, till it pleased God by his Grace to set them upon my heart, and so though they may see arguments as well as I, they will not do: Therefore he pities others and prays for them; and he hath a reverent respect to the Grace of others, though they be not in the same way that he is in, & he doth not presently cast them off saying, surely there is no Grace, and Godliness in them, this is a sign of a proud spirit; there are none that are gracious but know there was a time when they went on in that way, and yet they did not go against their light, but were willing to understand Gods mind, and yet till God came in, their hearts were not