That I prize persons and things according to the spiritualness §VIIIand holiness that is in them; and the more spiritual and holy any man or thing is, the more is that man and thing prized by my soul. I have often thought of that sweet word, Psal. 119. 104. Thy word is very pure, therefore doth thy 1servant love it. Other men love it, because of the profit they get by it; or because of a name, or this, or that, but I love it for the purity, for the holiness, and the cleanness of it. No preaching (saith the weak Saint) nor no praying, nor no talking, nor no society that likes me, and is sweet to me, but that that's most spiritual, most holy. It is not an Exercise tricked and trimmed up, with wit, learning, and eloquence; 'tis not the hanging of truths ears with counterfeit Pearls, that takes me; but the more plainness, spiritualness, and holiness I see in an Exercise, the more is my heart raised to prize it, and love it. And therefore, saith the weak Saint, because Christ is perfectly and infinitely holy above all others, I prize Christ above all. Ordinances are sweet, O but Christ is more sweet to my soul; Saints are precious, but Christ is far more precious; Heaven is glorious, but Christ is infinitely more glorious. The first thing that I would ask, if I might have it, saith the weak Saint, is Christ. And the next thing that I would ask, if I might have it, is more of Christ. And the last 2thing that I would ask, if I might have it, is that I might be satiated and filled with the fullness of Christ. Let the Ambition, man take the honours of the world, so I may but have Christ. Let the Voluptuous man swim in all the pleasures of the world, so I may have Christ. And let the covetous man tumble up and down in all the gold and silver of the world, so I may have Christ, and it shall be enough to my soul.
That I prize persons and things according to the spiritualnesse §VIIIand holinesse that is in them; and the more spirituall and holy any man or thing is, the more is that man and thing prized by my soule. I have often thought of that sweet word, Psal. 119. 104. Thy word is very pure, therefore doth thy 1servant love it. Other men love it, because of the profit they get by it; or because of a name, or this, or that, but I love it for the purity, for the holinesse, and the cleannesse of it. No preaching (saith the weak Saint) nor no praying, nor no talking, nor no society that likes me, and is sweet to me, but that that's most spirituall, most holy. It is not an Exercise trick'd and trim'd up, with wit, learning, and eloquence; 'tis not the hanging of truths ears with counterfet Pearles, that takes me; but the more plainnesse, spirituallnesse, and holinesse I see in an Exercise, the more is my heart raised to prize it, and love it. And therefore, saith the weak Saint, because Christ is perfectly and infinitely holy above all others, I prize Christ above all. Ordinances are sweet, O but Christ is more sweet to my soule; Saints are precious, but Christ is far more precious; Heaven is glorious, but Christ is infinitely more glorious. The first thing that I would ask, if I might have it, saith the weak Saint, is Christ. And the next thing that I would ask, if I might have it, is more of Christ. And the last 2thing that I would ask, if I might have it, is that I might be sa•iated and filled with the fullnesse of Christ. Let the Ambition, man take the honours of the world, so I may but have Christ. Let the Voluptuous man swim in all the pleasures of the world, so I may have Christ. And let the covetous man tumble up and downe in all the gold and silver of the world, so I may have Christ, and it shall be enough to my soule.
- 1Much in the word is wrapped up in a little, 'tis more to be admired, then to have Homers I liads comprised in a nut-shell. The word is like the stone Garamantides, that hath drops within it self, enriching of the gracious soul.Much in the word is wrapt up in a little, 'tis more to be admired, then to have Homers I liads comprized in a nut-shel. The word is like the stone Garamantides, that hath d•ops within it selfe, enriching of the gracious soul.
- 2None but Christ, none but Christ, ••id the Martyr.
