A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…

When a creature is able to move it self in its place, to those duties of this or that life, its said to live. If a thing move not but by others, its not alive; or if it move out of its place, its not alive, as a stone thrown up moves downward, and fire moves upward; but this is not properly life, but rather a desire of rest; and for things that move, they move according to the life they have; as, a tree a vegetative life, a beast a sensitive life, a man a rational life; but if a man have a spiritual motion in his proper place its a sign of spiritual life; sometimes a man reacheth out of his place, reaching to higher matters, and more ambitious thoughts then his calling leads to, those move not from an inward principle of grace, but from levity of heart; so the Pharisees, they moved to holy duties, but it was for credit, others for profit, for loaves, John 6.26. Its one thing to move to spiritual duties out of an inward inclination and affection to them, another thing to move out of levity or desire of eminency; it is one thing to move to them out of love, another thing to move to them out of respect, or credit, or profit. Why, this is but as the moving of a stone out of its natural gravity. Absalom had a marvellous affection to reign, and oh that he were King, every one should have justice, 2 Sam. 15.13. But he was now out of his place, and therefore the thing he did, was but to attempt the cutting off his Fathers life; but that is life properly that moves in its place.

When a creature is able to move it selfe in its place, to those duties of this or that life, its said to live. If a thing move not but by others, its not alive; or if it move out of its place, its not alive, as a stone thrown up moves downward, and fire moves upward; but this is not properly life, but rather a desire of rest; and for things that move, they move according to the life they have; as, a tree a vegetative life, a beast a sensitive life, a man a rationall life; but if a man have a spirituall motion in his proper place its a signe of spirituall life; sometimes a man reacheth out of his place, reaching to higher matters, and more ambitious thoughts then his calling leads to, those move not from an inward principle of grace, but from levity of heart; so the Pharisees, they moved to holy duties, but it was for credit, others for profit, for loaves,