Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

Fifthly, All this, in both cases, hath its rise from that which is in itself very small and inconsiderable. O the power of God, in making such a creature of the corruptible seed! and much more in bringing forth the new creature from so small beginnings: it is as the little cloud like a man's hand, which spread till heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain, 1 Kings xiii 44, 45. A man gets a word at a sermon, which hundreds beside him hear and let slip: but it remains with him, works in him, and never leaves him, till the little word be turned up side-down by it; that is, till he become a new man. It is like the vapour that got up into Ahasuerus's head, and cut off sleep from his eyes, Esther vi 1. which proved a spring of such motions, as never ceased, until Mordecai, in royal pomp, was brought on horse-back through the street, proud Haman trudging at his foot; the same Haman afterwards hanged, Mordecai advanced, and the church delivered from Haman's hellish […]. The grain of mustard-seed ⟨p. 147⟩—becometh a tree, Matth. xiii. 21, 22. God loves to bring great things out of small beginnings.

Fifthly, All this, in both cases, hath its rise from that which is in itself very small and inconsiderable. O the power of God, in making such a creature of the corruptible seed! and much more in bringing forth the new creature from so small beginnings: it is as the little cloud like a man's hand, which spread till heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain, 1 Kings xiii 44, 45. A man gets a word at a sermon, which hundreds beside him hear and let slip: but it remains with him, works in him, and never leaves him, till the little word be turned up side-down by it; that is, till he become a new man. It is like the vapour that got up into Abasuerus's head, and cut off sleep from his eyes, Esther vi 1. which proved a spring of such motions, as never ceased, until Mordecai, in royal pomp, was brought on horse-back through the street, proud Haman trudging at his foot; the same Haman afterwards hanged, Mordecai advanced, and the church delivered from Haman's hellish 〈…〉. The grain of mustard-seed ⟨p. 147⟩—becometh a tree,