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

Thirdly, If God does move the hearts of any, preciously to esteem of his people, though afflicted outwardly, ¹hearken to a word of encouragement, Certainly thou art blessed of God: It is a note of a wonderful strong eye-sight that thou hast, that thou canst see Spiritual excellency, through outward meanness: there is more skill in being able to see the preciousness of a thing, then to see the glory and lustre of it; that which is not true pearl, may have as much lustre as the true, but the skill of the Lapidary is to know, that is not precious, but the other, although it be sullied with dirt. It is a note of sincerity of grace, that thou lovest grace for grace: It is a note of the power of grace, that thou canst pass by that which is a stumbling to so many. Certainly God will know thy soul in adversity, and will look through all thy infirmities upon thee, that canst look with an honourable esteem upon his people through all afflictions: And in that time when thou suspectest the work of grace in thee, this may be one argument to uphold thee, though thou canst not discern the work of grace in thine own heart, yet thou canst prize it in another; it is an argument it is in thy soul, though now thou canst not see it; though people want other notes, yet this many have.

Thirdly, If God does move the hearts of any, preciously to esteem of his people, though afflicted outwardly, ¹hearken to a word of encouragement, Certainly thou art blessed of God: It is a note of a wonderful strong eye-sight that thou hast, that thou canst see Spiritual excellency, through outward meanness: there is more skill in being able to see the preciousness of a thing, then to see the glory and lustre of it; that which is not true pearl, may have as much lustre as the true, but the skill of the Lapidary is to know, that is not precious, but the other, although it be fullied with dirt. It is a note of sincerity of grace, that thou lovest grace for grace: It is a note of the power of grace, that thou canst pass by that which is a stumbling to so many. Certainly God will know thy soul in adversity, and will look through all thy infirmities upon thee, that canst look with an honorable esteem upon his people through all afflictions: And in that time when thou suspectest the work of grace in thee, this may be one argument to uphold thee, though thou canst not discern the work of grace in thine own heart, yet thou canst prize it in another; it is an argument it is in thy soul, though now thou canst not see it; though people want other notes, yet this many have.