Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians

Beside, there is this considerable and worthy of a remark as to these new-born ones, that though they have no assurance of a pardon nor have any great conquests over their corruptions, by reason whereof they have little satisfaction and much sorrow, yet they can in their serious and sedate frames truly say, that they are glad to hear and see that other Saints do God better service than they do: they mourn that themselves are no better, and yet rejoice that there are any better than themselves. Indeed in a fit and pang they do more than emulate, even envy those happy and advanced souls, and yet (in cold blood as we say) cannot but be glad that God hath better servants than they are; that there are Sons in his house and service, ⟨p. 214⟩though they be but as hired Servants. Alas! saith such a poor Babe, I am one of the most worthless wretches on earth, I live at so poor, low and inconsiderable a rate, that I am ashamed of my self, and am not worthy to be called a Christian, but notwithstanding this I can through grace rejoice, that God hath his Abraham's, Davids, Jobs, Pauls, &c. who glorify his name at a better rate. They admire the happiness of and bless them, who stand before the Lord and minister to his name and glory; as the Queen of Sheba did Solomons Servants. Yea if at any time in any thing they have been instrumental to the glory of God and serviceable to his name and people (as the Babes were, Heb. 6.10.) they are glad of it, though they have not yet the reward of it, but God seems to have forgotten it, and they themselves do scarce keep it in mind, as appears by Matth. 25.37. But now take Hypocrites and Formalists, they grudge what they do, as Mal. 3.14. and profess Christ Jesus out of envy to the Saints, as vying with them for a reputation, Phil. 1.15, 16.

Beside, there is this considerable and worthy of a remark as to these new-born ones, that though they have no assurance of a pardon nor have any great conquests over their corruptions, by reason whereof they have little satisfaction and much sorrow, yet they can in their serious and sedate frames truely say, that they are glad to hear and see that other Saints do God better service than they do: they mourn that themselves are no better, and yet rejoyce that there are any better than themselves. Indeed in a fit and pang they do more than emulate, even envy those happy and advanced souls, and yet (in cold blood as we say) cannot but be glad that God hath better servants than they are; that there are Sons in his house and service,