A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

(2.) Chiefly, because of the Life they live; the new Creature hath a more noble Being than all the Creatures in the World, and lives a more noble Life. Put the whole World in the Balance, and it is not worthy to be compared with the new Creature; those that are purified and sanctified, the World is not worthy of them; Heb. 11.38. Of whom the World was not worthy. Look as the Life of Reason excels that of Sense, and the Life of Sense that of Vegetation; the Life of Beasts is better than the Life of Plants; and the Life of Man better than the Life of Beasts: so doth Grace excel Reason, and the Life of Saints is a more noble Being than that of Men. I confess if you go upward, we cannot say the Life of Glory as much excels the Life of Grace, as the Life of Grace excels the Life of Reason; there is a greater Difference between the Life of Reason, and the Life of Grace, than between the Life of Grace and the Life of Glory; or between a carnal Man and a Child of God, than between the most glorified Saint in Heaven, and the weakest Believer on Earth. The Difference between Glory and Grace is gradual; but the Difference between the carnal Life and the spiritual Life is essential. Glorified Saints, and Saints here living the Life of Grace, differ only in Degrees; but the Life of Grace and the Life of Nature differ in kind. There is more Difference between a Toad or Beast and a Man, than between a Child and a Man: Grace and Glory differ but as a Child and a Man, only in Degree; but Grace and Sense, and Grace and Reason, differ as the Life of a Toad, and the Life of a Beast, from the Life of a Man.

(2.) Chiefly, because of the Life they live; the new Creature hath a more noble Being than all the Creatures in the World, and lives a more noble Life. Put the whole World in the Ballance, and it is not worthy to be compared with the new Creature; those that are purified and sanctified, the World is not worthy of them; Heb. 11.38. Of whom the World was not worthy. Look as the Life of Reason excels that of Sense, and the Life of Sense that of Vegitation; the Life of Beasts is better than the Life of Plants; and the Life of Man better than the Life of Beasts: so doth Grace excel Reason, and the Life of Saints is a more noble Being than that of Men. I confess if you go upward, we cannot say the Life of Glory as much excels the Life of Grace, as the Life of Grace excels the Life of Reason; there is a greater Difference between the Life of Reason, and the Life of Grace, than between the Life of Grace and the Life of Glory; or between a carnal Man and a Child of God, than between the most glorified Saint in Heaven, and the weakest Believer on Earth. The Difference between Glory and Grace is gradual; but the Difference between the carnal Life and the spiritual Life is essential. Glorified Saints, and Saints here living the Life of Grace, differ only in Degrees; but the Life of Grace and the Life of Nature differ in kind. There is more Difference between a Toad or Beast and a Man, than between a Child and a Man: Grace and Glory differ but as a Child and a Man, only in Degree; but Grace and Sense, and Grace and Reason, differ as the Life of a Toad, and the Life of a Beast, from the Life of a Man.