The saints delight. To which is annexed a treatise of meditation

2. Gifts. These are natures pride. ⟨p. 106⟩Gifts and parts, like Rachel, are fair to look upon, but grace excels. I had rather be holy than eloquent^*. An heart full of grace is better than an head full of notions. Gifts commend no man to God. 'Tis not the paring of the apple we esteem (though of a vermilion colour) but the fruit. We judge not the better of an horse for his trappings ^*and ornaments unless he have good mettle. What are the most glorious parts, if there be not the mettle of grace in the heart? Gifts may be bestowed upon one for the good of others, (as the nurses breasts are given her for the child) but grace is bestowed for a mans own eternal advantage. God may send away reprobates with gifts, as Abraham did the sons of the concubines, Gen. 25.6. but he entails the inheritance ⟨p. 107⟩only upon grace. O often meditate upon the excellency of grace.

2. Guifts. These are natures pride. ⟨p. 106⟩Guifts and parts, like Rachel, are faire to look upon, but grace excels. I had rather be holy than eloquent^*. An heart full of grace is better than an head full of notions. Gifts commend no man to God. 'Tis not the paring of the apple we esteem (though of a vermillion color) but the fruit. We judge not the better of an horse for his trappings ^*and ornaments unlesse he have good mettel. What are the most glorious parts, if there be not the mettel of grace in the heart? Gifts may be bestowed upon one for the good of others, (as the nurses breasts are given her for the childe) but grace is bestowed for a mans own eternal advantage. God may send away reprobates with gifts, as Abraham did the sons of the concubines,