Gospel-revelation in three treatises, viz, 1 The nature of God. 2 The excellencies of…

And then further, in this appears The excellency of it, that it is the measure of all other kind of excellency. ¹The soul of man is the measure of all other kind of excellencies, as thus, look how far any thing may be subservient for the good of the soul, so far that thing hath an excellency in it; and if it be not subservient for the good of the soul, it hath no worth and excellency in it; as thus, Suppose a man have a great estate in the world, great comings in, many friends, many places; now there is some excellency you will say in these things: but are these subservient for the good of thy soul, that thy soul can enjoy communion with God so much the better? then these things are good to thee; but if so be that these things hinder the work of thy soul, and do not help it forward in the service that it is most capable of, and made for, there is no excellency in these things. And indeed I know no one better sign that a man doth understand the true worth of his soul than this: What doth he account to be the measure of the excellency of all the things of this world? Thou wouldest fain have an estate, and outward things in abundance, as other men have: Why thou sayest they are the good creatures of God, I grant it, they are so; but now wherein dost thou think the excellency of these creatures doth most consist? Certainly if thou comest to know the true worth of thy soul, thou wilt say, God gives me these outward things, and blessed be his Name, by a more large portion of these things am I enabled to do more large service for God; my soul is freed from incumbrances in the ⟨p. 216⟩world, and they do help forward the work that my soul is specially concerned in, viz. the service of God, and therefore I account it a greater good to enjoy these things, than to be without them: now if thou comest to reason in this manner, it is a sign that God hath shown thee what the true worth and excellency of thy soul is.

And then further, in this appears The excellency of it, that it is the measure of all other kinde of excellency. ¹The soul of man is the measure of all other kinde of excellencies, as thus, look how far any thing may bee subservient for the good of the soul, so far that thing hath an excellency in it; and if it bee not subservient for the good of the soul, it hath no worth and excellency in it; as thus, Suppose a man have a great estate in the world, great comings in, many friends, many places; now there is some excellency you will say in these things: but are these subservient for the good of thy soul, that thy soul can injoy communion with God so much the better? then these things are good to thee; but if so bee that these things hinder the work of thy soul, and do not help it forward in the service that it is most capable of, and made for, there is no excellency in these things. And indeed I know no one better sign that a man doth understand the true worth of his soul than this: What doth hee account to bee the measure of the excellency of all the things of this world? Thou wouldest fain have an estate, and outward things in abundance, as other men have: Why thou sayest they are the good creatures of God, I grant it, they are so; but now wherein dost thou think the excellency of these creatures doth most consist? Certainly if thou comest to know the true worth of thy soul, thou wilt say, God gives mee these outward things, and blessed bee his Name, by a more large portion of these things am I inabled to do more large service for God; my soul is freed from incumbrances in the