Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

Secondly, Examine whether there hath followed a comfortable conviction and manifestation of Gods love in Christ, which hath not only wrought joy and comfort against the former fear, but also a burning and affectionate desire after Christ and Holiness. Therefore if the Holiness that is in you be thus wrought it doth proceed from the spirit, for this orderly proceeding of the spirit doth make it manifest. But as for the natural strength, it hath no such beginning: it is not wholly wrought by the word: it may be he hath been a little humbled and comforted by the word, but it is not throughly and soundly, but it is a overly habitual strength of nature picked out of observations and example.

Secondly, Examine whether there hath followed a comfortable conviction and manifestation of Gods love in Christ, which hath not onely wrought joy and comfort against the former fear, but also a burning and affectionate desire after Christ and Holiness. Therefore if the Holiness that is in you be thus wrought it doth proceed from the spirit, for this orderly proceeding of the spirit doth make it manifest. But as for the natural strength, it hath no such beginning: it is not wholly wrought by the word: it may be he hath been a little humbled and comforted by the word, but it is not throughly and soundly, but it is a overly habitual strength of nature picked out of observations and example.

Again as the spiritual strength hath a different beginning, so it hath a different end: that is the ends of them are as far, if not further different then the beginning, for as the spiritual strength hath a different beginning, so it hath a different end; that is the end of them are so far, if not further different then the beginning: for as the Holiness that is in a gracious man ariseth from a higher well head, so it leads a man to a more noble and excellent end then the natural strength; for the end of a spiritual mans strength is Gods glory, that he may yield better obedience unto God, that he may keep touch with him, and keep in with him that he may have more familiarity with him, and more confidence & boldness with him in prayer, In a word that he may be fit for every good work. But the end of the natural mans strength is his himself, his own profit and pleasure, & his own good: for as the rise of any thing is higher, so the end is higher. As for example, water is lifted upon the top of some Mountain or high place because it may go further, then if it were upon even ground, so when a man is strong in the Inward man, he is set up higher, he hath another end, & that is to please God and not himself, and thus much for the second difference.