Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

It is reported of Apries, a King of Egypt, who was of a base birth, for which some despised him; wherefore of a great Basin of gold, in which he and his guests were wont to wash their feet, he made an Image, and set it up in an eminent place in the City, and observing the superstitious devotions of the people thereunto, Now, says he, though the King be of mean birth, he is not to be respected the less: It is true, the Saints of God for their outwards are mean, but their consecration puts glory upon them. I have read of the people of the East-Indies, in the Isle Zeylon, who having an Apes tooth got from them, which was a consecrated thing by them, they offered an incredible mass of treasure to recover it; and if so be a consecrated thing, though so base in it self, be so highly esteemed for the consecration sake, how much more an immortal soul, that hath so many graces, as pearls set glittering in it, being consecrated unto God?

It is reported of Apries, a King of Egypt, who was of a base birth, for which some despised him; wherefore of a great Bason of gold, in which he and his guests were wont to wash their feet, he made an Image, and set it up in an eminent place in the City, and observing the superstitious devotions of the people thereunto, Now, says he, though the King be of mean birth, he is not to be respected the less: It is true, the Saints of God for their outwards are mean, but their consecration puts glory upon them. I have read of the people of the East-Indies, in the Isle Zeylon, who having an Apes tooth got from them, which was a consecrated thing by them, they offered an incredible mass of treasure to recover it; and if so be a consecrated thing, though so base in it self, be so highly esteemed for the consecration sake, how much more an immortal soul, that hath so many graces, as pearls set glittering in it, being consecrated unto God?

Secondly, they are those that are entered into Covenant with God, and therefore in nearer relation (then others) to God; therefore they are called The portion of God, The treasure of God, The peculiar ones of God; they are those that God satisfies himself in; what higher then such expressions as these? They are those that God hath set his heart upon, the beloved ones of God: They are the children of the high God; The spouse of the son, that are married to the son; In some respect nearer then the Angels themselves, for they are not in a mystical Union so married to Christ, as Gods people are; and Gods people having such relations to God, as in these & many other respects might be named, they are worthy of honourable esteem.