The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

And doth it not argue a low, sordid Spirit▪ not to desire and aim at the perfection thou art capable of? not to desire that blessedness which alone is suitable and satisfying to a reasonable and spiritual being? Bethink thy▪ self a little, how low art thou sunk into the dirt of the earth? how art thou plunged into the miry Ditch? that even thine own clothes might abhor thee? Is the Father of Spirits thy Father▪ Is the world of Spirits thy Country? Hast thou any relation to that Heavenly Progeny? Art thou allied to that blessed Family? and yet undesirous of the same blessedness? Canst thou savour nothing, but what smells of the Earth? Is nothing grateful to thy Soul, but what is corrupted by so vicious, and impure a tincture? are all thy delights centred in a Dunghill? and the polluted pleasures of a filthy world better to thee then the eternal visions and enjoyments of Heaven? what, art thou all made of Earth? Is thy soul stupefied into a Clod? hast thou no sense with thee of any thing better and more excellent? canst thou look upon no glorious thing with a pleased eye? Are things only desirable and lovely to thee, as they are deformed? O consider the corrupted distempered state of thy Spirit; and how vile a disposition it hath contracted to it self. Thine looks too like the Mundane Spirit. ¹The Spirit of the World. The Apostle speaks of it ([Greek or Hebrew]) by way of distinction; we have not received the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, that we might know, or see (and no doubt 'tis desire that ⟨p. 345⟩animates that eye; 'tis not bare speculative intuition, and no more) the things freely given us of God. Surely he whose desire doth not guide his eye to the beholding of those things, hath received the Spirit of the world only. A Spirit that conforms him to this world, makes him think only thoughts of this world, and drive the designs of this world, and speak the language of this world. A Spirit that connaturalizes him to the world, makes him of a temper suitable to it. He breathes only worldly breath, carries a worldly aspect, is of a worldly conversation. O poor low spirit! that such a world should with-hold thee from the desire, and pursuit of such glory! Art thou not ashamed to think what thy desires are wont to pitch upon, while they decline and wave this blessedness?