In the Old Testament, the Jews being Babes and Infants in grace and holiness, had a world of Temporal Promises, and very few Spiritual Promises: But now in the days of the Gospel, the Lord is pleased to double and treble his spirit upon his people, and now you meet with very few temporal Promises in the Gospel, but the Gospel is filled with spiritual Promises; the Gospel drops nothing but marrow and fatness, love and sweetness; and therefore God looks in these days that men should grow up to a greater height of holiness, heavenliness, and spiritualness, then what they attained to in those dark days, wherein the Sun shined but dimly. Men rich and strong in Grace, look upon the world with a holy scorn, and disdain, as Themistocles, when he saw in the dark a thing like a Pearl, he scorned to stoop for it himself, saying to another, Stoop thee, for thou art not Themistocles. Abraham, a man strong in Grace, looked with a holy scorn, and with an eye of disdain upon these poor things. When Melchizedek from God had made him Heir of all things, he refused the Riches that the King of Sodom offered 1him, because God was his Shield, and his exceeding great Reward. The greatest bargain that a soul rich in Grace will make with God for himself, is this, Give me but bread to eat, and clothes to wear, and thou shalt be my God; so it was with that brave soul, Gen. 28. 21. he desires but Food and Raiment. Mark, he asks food, not junkets; Raiment, not Ornaments. A little will serve a man that is strong in grace; much will not serve a man that is weak in grace; nothing will ⟨p. 61⟩serve a man that is void of grace. Souls weak in grace, have their hearts much working after these poor low things, as you may see, Mat. 18. 1. Who shall be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? The Question is stated by the Disciples, that one would have thought should have had their hearts and thoughts in Heaven; but they dreamed of an earthly Kingdom, where honours and Offices should be distributed, as in the days of David, and Solomon. And 'tis observable in Mark 9. 33, 34. they are at it again, And he came to Capernaum, and being in the house, he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among your selves by the way? But they 2held their peace, (they were ashamed to tell him) for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be greatest.
In the Old Testament, the Jewes being Babes and Infants in grace and holinesse, had a world of Temporall Promises, and very few Spirituall Promises: But now in the dayes of the Gospel, the Lord is pleased to double and trebble his spirit upon his people, and now you meet with very few temporall Promises in the Gospel, but the Gospel is fill'd with spirituall Promises; the Gospel drops nothing but marrow and fatnesse, love and sweetnesse; and therefore God looks in these dayes that men should grow up to a greater height of holinesse, heavenlinesse, and spiritualnesse, then what they attained to in those dark dayes, wherein the Sun shin'd but dimly. Men rich and strong in Grace, look upon the world with a holy scorne, and disdaine, as Themistocles, when he saw in the dark a thing like a Pearle, he scorn'd to stoop for it himselfe, saying to another, Stoop thee, for thou art not Themistocles. Abraham, a man strong in Grace, look't with a holy scorne, and with an eye of disdaine upon these poor things. When Melchisedech from God had made him Heire of all things, he refused the Riches that the King of Sodome offered 1him, because God was his Shield, and his exceeding great Reward. The greatest bargaine that a soule rich in Grace will make with God for himselfe, is this, Give me but bread to eat, and cloaths to wear, and thou shalt be my God; so it was with that brave soul, Gen. 28. 21. he desires but Food and Rayment. Marke, he asks food, not junkets; Rayment, not Ornaments. A little will serve a man that is strong in grace; much will not serve a man that is weak in grace; nothing will ⟨p. 61⟩serve a man that is voyd of grace. Soules weak in grace, have their hearts much working after these poore low things, as you may see, Mat. 18. 1. Who shall be greatest in the Kingdome of Heaven? The Question is stated by the Disciples, that one would have thought should have had their hearts and thoughts in Heaven; but they dream'd of an earthly Kingdome, where honours and Offices should be distributed, as in the dayes of David, and Solomon. And 'tis observeable in Mark 9. 33, 34. they are at it againe, And he came to Capernaum, and being in the house, he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among your selves by the way? But they 2held their peace, (they were asham'd to tell him) for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be greatest.
- 1Gen. 14. 21. Chap. 15. 1.
- 2So in Luke 9. 46.
