Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	flesh_n	keep_v	pawn_n	128	3	16.6629	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29687	The crovvn & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered in LVIII sermons from Heb. 12. 14, where you have the necessity, excellency, rarity, beauty and glory of holiness set forth, with the resolution of many weighty questions and cases, also motives and means to perfect holiness : with many other things of very high and great importance to all the sons and daughters of men, that had rather be blessed then cursed, saved then damned / by Thomas Brooks ...	Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680.	1662 (1662)	Wing B4939; ESTC R36378	584,294	672

moves and perswades men to holiness it is he that presents holiness in its beauty and glory to the soul it is he that sows seeds of holiness in the soul and it is he that causes those seeds to grow up to maturity and ripeness Nil nisi sanctum à sancto spiritu prodire potest Nothing can come from the holy spirit but that which is holy The holy Spirit is the great principle of all the holiness that is in the world and this holy Spirit God hath engaged himself to give to those that are unholy Ezek. 36.25 26 27. I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you A new heart will I also give you and a new spirit well I put within you and I well take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgements and do them The holy spirit is a gift a free gift a noble gift a precious gift a glorious gift 2 Tim. 2.21 that God will bestow upon the unclean upon the unsanctified that they may be cleansed and sanctified and so fitted for the Lords service and use It is possible that you may be holy Witness 2. His holy word that he hath given on purpose to make men holy and to keep men holy Deut. 4.6 7 8 9. Rom. 7.12 Luke 1.70 to 76. his commandments are holy just and good his threatnings are holy just and good and all his promises are holy just and good The holy Scriptures were written with a finger of holinesse so as to move to holiness and to work holinesse the whole word of God is an intire love-letter to provoke to holiness and to promote holiness Holy commands should sweetly perswade us to holiness and holy threatnings should divinely force us to holiness and holy promises should effectually allure us to the love of holiness to the embracing of holiness and to the practise of holiness The great design of God in sending this sacred volume in golden letters from heaven was to enamour men with the love and beauty of holiness Again it is possible that you may attain to true holiness Witness 3. Those holy Embassadors that he hath sent on purpose to turn men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to Jesus Christ Acts 26.18 2 Corin. 5.18 19 20. Their great business and work is to treat with you about holiness it is to woo you to match with holiness and to follow after holiness it is to remove all lets and impediments that may any wayes hinder your embracing of holiness and it is to propose all manner of encouragements that may win you over to make holiness your great All. Again it is possible that you may be holy Witnesse 4. The holy Examples of all the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Praecepta docent exempla movent and Saints that are left on record on purpose to provoke you to an imitation of them in holiness their holy examples as so many shining stars are left upon record to influence us to holiness In the holy examples of those that are now triumphant in heaven you may run and read that holiness is attainable In their holy examples as in so many looking-glasses you may see that holiness is a Jewel that may be procured by that holiness that others have reached to sinners may see that it is possible that they may be made Saints Again it is possible that you may be holy Witnesse 5. All those notorious sinners that the Scripture declares have been sanctified and made holy to instance only in a few Adam you know was created in an estate of innocency Gen. 1.26 integrity and perfect holiness he being made in the image of God and after the likeness and similitude of God it was agreed upon in the Parliament of heaven that man should be made glorious in holiness In this Scripture he speaks plainly of the Renovation of that knowledge holiness and righteousness that Adam somtimes had but lost it by his fall Psal 8.4 5 6. Gen. 2.20 and so he was for he was made after Gods own image And this the Apostle clearly and fully evidences in that famous Scripture Ephes 4.22 23 24. That Adam was invested and endowed with righteousness and holiness in his first glorious estate with righteousness that he might carry it fairly justly evenly and righteously towards man and with holiness that he might carry it wisely lovingly reverentially and holily towards God And that he might take up in God as his chiefest good as in his great All might be fufficiently made good out of this Scripture last cited but I shall not now stand upon the discovery of Adams beauty authority dominion dignity honour and glory with which he was adorned invested and crowned in innocency Let this satisfie that Adams first estate was a state of perfect knowledge wisdom and understanding it was a perfect state of holiness righteousness and happiness there was nothing within him but what was desirable and delectable there was nothing without him but what was amiable and commendable nor nothing about him but what was serviceable and comfortable and yet in the height of all his glory he falls to Apostasie and open Rebellion against God he takes part with Satan against God himself he transgresses his righteous Law he affronts his justice he provokes his anger he stirrs up his wrath against himself and his posterity The sin of Adam was a voluminous sin all kinds of notorious sins were bound up in it as backsliding rebellion treason pride unbelief blasphemy contempt of God unthankfulness theft murder and idolatry c. The Philosopher being asked which was the best member of the body answered The tongue for if it be good it is the best Trumpet of Gods glory And being asked again which was the worst answered The tongue for if it be bad it is the worst fire-brand of hell So if any should ask me Which was the best creature of God I would answer Man in honour before his fall If you should ask me Which is the worst I must answer Man in his fall Adam was once the wonder of all understanding the mirrour of wisdom and knowledge the image of God the delight of heaven the glory of the creation the worlds great Lord and the Lords great darling but being faln ah how low how poor how miserable how sottish how sensless how brutish yea how much below the beast that perisheth was he and yet God pardoned changed and sanctified him and stampt his image of holiness afresh upon him when he made a Covenant with him in Christ Genesis 3. So Manasseh he was a notorious sinner he was a sinner of the greatest magnitude his sins reached up to heaven his soul was ripe for hell he had sold

work to his praying work to his mourning work to his repenting work to his believing work to his waiting work though nothing comes on it though he make no earnings of it though comfort doth not come though joy and peace doth not come though assurance doth not come though enlargements do not come though answers and returns from heaven do not come though good dayes do not come though deliverance doth not come yet such will keep close to their work that have their eye upon divine glory But now such who eye not the glory of God in what they do they quickly grow weary of their work if they can make no earnings of their seekings and fastings and prayings they are presently ready to throw up all and to quarrel with God himself as if God had done them an injurie Isa 58.1 2 3 4. Fifthly and lastly A man that really aims at the glory of God in this or that duty he cannot be satisfied nor contented with the performance of duties without some enjoyments of God in duties without some converse and communion with God in duties his soul cannot be satisfied his soul thirsts and longs to see the beauty and the glory of the Lord in his sanctuary Psalm 63.1 2 3. and without this sight he cannot be quieted Here is the Ordinance but where is the God of the Ordinance Here is prayer but where is the God of prayer Here is the duty but where is the God of duty Here is enlargements but where is the God of enlargements Here are meltings and breakings of spirit but where is the God of these meltings and breakings Psalm 84.2 My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord My heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God The Courts of the Lord without spiritual converses with the living God could not satisfie his soul O saith he Here be the Courts of the Lord the Courts of the Lord but where is the living God where is the living God where is that God that makes men to live and that makes Ordinances to be living lively Ordinances to his childrens souls O the Courts of the Lord are very desireable but the living God is much more desirable The Courts of the Lord are precious and glorious but the living God is infinitely more precious and glorious Here is the mantle of Elijah but where is the God of Elijah 2 Kings 2.12 13 14. Mr. Fox Acts and Mon. Here are the Courts of the Lord but where is the Lord of these Courts It was the speech of holy Mr. Bradford That he could not leave a duty till he had found communion with Christ in the duty he could not give off a duty till his heart was brought into a duty frame he could not leave confession till he had found his heart humbled and melted under the sense of his sin he could not give over petitioning till he had found his heart taken with the beauties of the things desired and strongly carried out after the enjoyment of them Neither could he leave thanksgiving till he had found his spirit enlarged and his soul quickned in the return of praises And so it was with holy Bernard who was wont to say O Lord I never come to thee but by thee Nunquam abs te absque te recedo Bern. M●ditat I never go from thee without thee A man that hath his eye upon the glory of Christ he cannot put off his soul with any thing below communion with Christ in those Religious services and duties that he offers up to Christ Though the breasts of duty are sweet yet those breasts will not satisfie the soul except Christ lies betwixt them Can. 1.13 But now men that have base poor low and by-ends in what they do they can come off easily from their duties though they find no spirit no life no warmth in duty yet they can come off with content from duty though they have no communion no converse at all with God in duty though they have no pledges of grace no pawns of mercy no tastes of love no relishes of heaven in a duty yet they can come off from the duty with content and satisfaction of spirit let but others applaud him and his own heart hug him and he hath enough Psalm 45.1 2. Zeph. 3.9 Can. 4.3 Compare these Scriptures together Prov. 11 30. chap. 1● 18 chap. 25.11 Mat 7.6 cha● 12.35 Col. 4.6 Eph. 4.29 Acts 26.25 John 6.25 1 Pet. 4 11. In the sixteenth and last place A man that is really holy speaks a holy language a holy heart and a holy tongue are inseparable companions if there be grace in the heart there will be grace in the lips if the heart be pure the language will be pure Christ saies his Spouses lips are like a thred of scarlet they are red with talking of nothing but a crucified Christ and they are thin like a thred not swelled with other vain discourses And ver 10. he tells you That the lips of his Spouse drop as the honey-combs or drop honey-combs and that honey and milk are under her tongue You know that Canaan was a land that flowed with milk and honey why the language of the Spouse was the language of Canaan her lips were still dropping such holy spiritual and heavenly matter as was as sweet pleasant profitable desireable and delectable to mens souls as ever honey and millk was to mens palates or appetites and as many were fed and nourished by milk and honey so many were fed and nourished by the holy droppings of her lips Psalm 37.30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom and his tongue talketh of judgement If the heart be holy the tongue will be a talking wisely fruitfully feelingly affectionately of that which may profit both a mans self and others Prov. 10.20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver Quod hominis dignitas excellentia nulla alia re magis cognoscitur quam oratione Pet. Martyr 2. pag. 4. Qui in Christum credunt loquuntur novis the heart of the wicked is little worth Good mens words are of more worth then wicked mens hearts and look as choice silver is known by its tinkling so holy men are known by their talking And as choice silver giveth a clear and sweet sound so the tongue of the just soundeth sweetly and pleasantly in the ears of others Look as choice silver is highly prized and valued among men so is the tongue of the righteous among those that are righteous And look as choice silver allures and draws the hearts of men to a love and liking of it so the tongues of the righteous do allure and draw the hearts of men to a love and liking of vertue and goodness Ver. 21. The lips of the righteous feed many They feed many by their exhortations instructions admonitions and counsels The mouthes of the righteous are like the gates of some hospitable persons where many are fed The

up to holy rules and live out holy principles must prepare for sufferings All the Roses of holiness are surrounded with pricking Briers The History of the ten persecutions and that little book of Martyrs the 11. of the Hebrews and Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments with many other Treatises that are extant do abundantly evidence that from age to age and from one generation to another they that have been born after the flesh Gal. 4.29 Within the first 300. years after Christ all that made a profession of the Apostles doctrine were cruelly murdered have persecuted them that have been born after the spirit and that the seed of the Serpent have been still a multiplying of troubles upon the seed of the woman Would any man take the Churches picture saith Luther then let him paint a poor silly Maid sitting in a wilderness compassed about with hungry Lyons Wolves Bores and Bears and with all manner of other cruel hurtful Beasts and in the midst of a great many furious men assaulting her every moment and minute for this is her condition in the world As certain as the night follows the day so certain will that black angel persecution follow holiness where-ever it goes In the last of the ten persecutions seventeen thousand holy Martyrs were slain in the space of one moneth And in Queen Maries days or if you will in the Marian dayes not of blessed but of most abhorred memory the Popish Prelates in less then four years sacrificed the lives of eight hundred innocents to their Idols and O that that precious innocent blood did not still cry to Heaven for vengeance against this Nation But Secondly Christ and his Apostles hath long since foretold us that afflictions and persecutions will attend us in this world the Lord hath long since forewarned us that we may be fore-armed and not surprised on a sudden when they come Christ hath shot off many a warning piece in his word and sent many a Harbinger that so we may stand upon our guard and not be surprised nor astonished when afflictions and persecutions overtake us Mat. 10.22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake but he that endureth to the end the same shall be saved Chap. 16.24 Then said Jesus unto his Disciples if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Luk. 21.12 But before all these they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you delivering you up to the Synagogues and into prisons being brought before Kings and Rulers for my names sake John 15.20 Remember the word that I said unto you The servant is not greater then the Lord if they have persecuted me Non potest qui pati timet ejus esse qui passus est He that is afraid to suffer cannot be his disciple who suffered so much Tert. they will also persecute you if they have kept my saying they will keep yours also Ah Christians since they have crowned your head with thornes there is no reason why you should expect to be crowned with Rose-buds God-fry of Bullen first King of Jerusalem refused to be crowned with a crown of Gold saying That it became not a Christian there to wear a crown of Gold where Christ for our salvation had sometime worn a crown of thornes Chap. 16. ult These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace in the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world Acts 14.21 22. And when they had preached the Gospel to that City and had taught many they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God As there was no way to Paradise but by the flaming sword nor no way to Canaan but through a wilderness Loddela Corda computeth fourty four several kinds of torments wherewith the Primitive Christians were tryed Adv. Sacr. cap. 128. so there is no way to heaven but by the Gates of hell there is no way to a glorious exaltation but through a Sea of tribulation They do but dream and deceive their own souls who think to go to heaven upon Beds of Doun or in a soft and delicate way or that think to be attended to glory with mirth and musick or with singing or dancing the way to happiness is not strewed with Roses but full of Thornes and Briers as those of whom this world was not worthy have experienced Ecclesiastical Histories tells us that all the Apostles died violent deaths Peter was crucified with his heels upward Christ was crucified with his head upwards but Peter thought this was to great an honor for him to be crucified as his Lord and therefore he chose to be crucified with his heels upward and Andrew was crucified by Egeus King of Edessa Acts 12.2 James the son of Zebedee was slain by Herod with the sword and Philip was crucified at Hierapolis in Asia and while Bartholomew was preaching the glad-tydings of salvation multitudes fell upon him and beat him down with staves and then crucified him and after all this his skin was fleaed off and he beheaded Thomas was slain with a Dart at Calumina in India and Mathew was slain with a Spear say some others say he was run through with a sword and James the son of Alpheus who was called the Just was thrown down from off a Pinacle of the Temple and yet having some life left in him he was brained with a Fullers club Lebbeus was slain by Agbarus King of Edessa and Paul was beheaded at Rome under Nero and Simon the Canaanite was crucified in Egypt say some others say that he and Jude was slain in a Tumult of the people Matthias was stoned to death Rev. 1.9 and John was banished into Patmos and afterwards as some Histories tells us he was by that cruel Tyrant Domitian cast into a Tun of scalding Lead and yet delivered by a miracle Thus all these precious servants of God except John died violent deaths and so through sufferings entered into glory they found in their own experience the truth of what Christ had foretold concerning their sufferings and persecutions About the year 1626 A book formerly printed and intituled A preparation to the cross of Christ composed by John Frith Martyr was brought in the belly of a Fish to the Market in Cambridge Mr. Jer. Dyke in a Fast Sermon at Westminster and that a little before the Commencement time when there was a confluence of much people from all places of the Land which was construed by them that feared the Lord to be no less then an heavenly warning to all the people of England to prepare for the cross But ah since that year who can recount the heavy crosses that has generally attended the people of this Nation most

the smiles of a Prince c and will not you lament and mourne for the loss of holiness which is the choicest Jewel in a Christians Crowne Tears instead of Gemmes were the ornaments of Davids bed when he was fallen from his holiness Psal 51. And though the Persian Kings would have no mourning nor mourning apparel worne in their presence yet the King of kings loves to see his people a mourning for the falls of holiness as well as for the heights of wickedness When news was brought to Xenophon of his Sons death Val. Max. lib. 5. c. 10. he put off his Crowne from his head and wept O my Brethren who can heare of the death of holiness and behold the death of holiness in mens hearts lives and families and not put off his crowne and weep and not put off his ornaments and weep till he can weep no more c. But Sixthly Evidence the truth and reality of your holiness by pursuing pressing and following after the highest degrees of holiness Bernard in Cant. crys out I would not upon the sudden attaine to my highest pitch but grow towards it by little and little 2 Pet. 1.5 13. Rom. 1.17 Psal 84.7 Mushromes grow up to perfection in one night O sit not down satisfied with some drops or sips of holiness but labour after the perfection of holiness O don't content your selves with so much holiness as will bring you to happiness or with so much holiness as will keep wrath and your souls asunder or hell and your souls asunder or eternal ruine and your souls asunder The exhortation in the Text Follow peace with all men and holiness is an exhortation that was given out to Saints that were holy before and the life and force of it lyes in this that those that were holy should labour to be more and more holy they should still be adding of grace to grace holiness to holiness they should still be a going on from faith to faith and from strength to strength As holiness hath its conception birth and infancy so it hath its full growth and after that all Christians must strive Holiness is not like to Jonahs Gourd that shoote up in a night but 't is like Plants and Trees that grows up by degrees Psal 92.14 and after the highest degrees we must endeavour 1 Kings 19.4 5. After the Prophet Elias had travelled a dayes journey in the wilderness he sate downe and slept under a Juniper Tree and there God calls upon him up and eate and when he found him the second time he calls againe upon him Ver. 7. up and eate because thou hast a great journey to goe O Christians you have a howling wilderness to travell through you have a great journey to goe you have many a mountaine to walke over and many an enemy to vanquish even the world the flesh and the devil and many a cross to bare and many a mercy to improve c. and therefore you have very great cause to up and eate I say to up and eate that is to grow stronger and stronger in holiness and to walke from grace to grace and from vertue to vertue and to come off from your milke Heb. 5.12 13 14. and to feed upon strong meate that you may hold out to the end of your journey and not faint nor fall short of that great salvation which attends perfection of holiness And this progress in holiness is that maine thing that the Apostle presses upon the believing Corinthians in that 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearely beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the feare of God The Apostle having in the former Chapter armed the believing Corinthians with many strong Arguments against all communion and fellowship with Idolaters he comes at last to touch upon those great and glorious promises Ver. 16 17 18. which upon the account of their high and holy calling they were interested in and he presents them as singular motives and as choice and precious encouragements to move them to perfect holiness in the feare of God There is no work on earth that so well becomes the Heirs of such precious promises as that of cleansing themselves from all filthiness on the one hand and that of perfecting holiness in the feare of God on the other hand Now this being a point of the highest concernment and of the greatest importance imaginable to the Saints I shall therefore endeavour these three things First To lay downe some motives to provoke you to perfect holiness in the feare of God c. Secondly I shall propound some meanes some directions that may help you to make a progress in holiness c. Thirdly I shall shew you how you may know whether you have attained to such a perfection of holiness as we are all to strive after c. I shall first begin with the motives that may whet and stir up your spirits to labour after greater degrees and higher measures of holiness then yet you have attained to and to that purpose I beseech you seriously to consider of these following particulars First Consider that notwithstanding all the means and all the advantages and all the opportunities that you have enjoyed to worke you to perfect holiness in the feare of God yet you have obtain'd but to very small measures of holiness you are rather Babes then Men in holines you are rather shrubs then Cedars in grace you are rather Dwarfs then Giants in godliness to this very day And this sad charge I shall briefly make good against you by an Induction of eight particulars thus First The strength the power the activity and the prevalancy of sin in you to this day do's witness to your faces that you have yet obtain'd but small measures of holiness Rom. 7.22 23 24. Isa 59.12 Oh my Brethren are not many of your corruptions as powerfull and as strong as they were five ten yea twenty years agoe notwithstanding all the prayers that you have made and all the Sermons that you have heard and all the tears that you have shed and all the resolutions that you have taken and all the promises that you have made and all the conflicts that you have had and what do's this speak out but that holiness is at a low ebbe in your souls O Sirs were but holiness risen to a greater height in your souls Ch. 8.10 how readily would you trample upon your lusts and how easily would you leade captivity captive As the house of David grew stronger and stronger 2 Sam. 3.1 so the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker As holiness rises in the soul by degrees so sin dies in the soul by degrees and the more any man abounds in holiness the more he abounds in his spirituall conquests over the world Gal. 8.14 the flesh and the devill O Sirs your pride testifies to your faces and your self-love

of holinesse that Christian is grown to Phil. 3.3 For wee are the c●rcumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh These Philippians were eminent in grace and holinesse as you may see in chap. 1. And they place no confidence in circumcision nor in any such outward performances or services but they were much in the exercise of grace and in worshipping of God in the Spirit and in rejoycing in the Person of Christ the Natures of Christ the Offices of Christ the Discoveries of Christ the Communications of Christ the glorious Operations of Christ the precious Promises of Christ and in the heart-warming and heart-chearing Blood of Christ Now to bee much exercised in the most internal spiritual and Evangelical duties of Religion argues a very great height of holinesse But 8thly The more spiritual internal intrinsecal Principles Motives and Considerations carries a person on in Religious duties and services the more holy that person is when a man is carried on in the duties of Religion from a sense of Divine Love Psa 119.1 2 3. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 4. Isa 38.16 17 19 20. Psa 63.1 2 3. or from a sense of the special presence of Christ with his Spirit or from a sense of the excellency and sweetnesse of communion and fellowship with God or from a sense of the graciousnesse and goodnesse of God towards him or from a sense of singular influences and incomes from God or from a sense of the choice and precious discoveries of God or from a sense of the beauty and glory of God c. This argues a very great measure of holinesse that such a person hath attained to The more the sweet looks of Christ the secret visits of Christ the private whispers of Christ the divine joggings of Christ the blessed Love-tokens of Christ and the holy kisses and glorious embraces of Christ doth incite and provoke a person to Religious duties the greater degrees of holinesse that person hath reacht to but now 't is an Argument that the streams of holinesse runs but low when external Motives and Considerations have the greatest hand in carrying a person on in Religious duties The more bare custome the eye of the creature the favour of the creature the example of the creature the applause of the creature the rewards of the creature or the keeping up of a mans parts or the keeping up of a mans name esteem and repute in the world doth influence a Christians heart to Religious duties the lesse holinesse that Christian hath Yea 't is considerable that outward Motives and natural Principles have carried many Heathens to do many great and glorious things in the world Did not Sisera do as great things as Gideon the difference did only lye here that the great things that Gideon did hee did from more spiritual Principles and raised Considerations than any Sisera was acted by And did not Diogenes trample under his feet the great and glorious things of this world as well as Moses Heb. 11. the difference did only lye in this that Moses trampled under his feet the gay and gallant things of this world from inward holy Principles and from high and glorious Considerations and Motives whereas Diogenes did only trample upon them from poor low Principles and from carnal and external Considerations I have read of one Cosmus Medices a rich Citizen of ●lorence that hee confessed to a neer friend of his that hee built so many Magnificent Structures and spent so much on Scholars and Libraries not for any love to Learning but to raise up to himself the Trophies of fame and renown And many of the Romans have done very great and glorious things for their Country but all from natural Principles and from carnal and external Motives and Considerations as for a great name a puff of honour a little applause c. and therefore their most glorious actions have been but shining sins God alwaies writes a nothing upon all those services Jer. ●2 23 wherein mens Principles and their Ends are naught and low 'T was a notable saying of Luther one work of a Christian saith hee is more precious then Heaven and Earth and if I might have my desire I would rather chuse the meanest work of a Country Christian or poor Maid than all the Victories and Triumphs of Alexander the Great and of Julius Caesar because whatsoever a Saint doth though it be never so small and mean yet it is great and glorious because he doth all in Faith and by the Word And saith the same Author further let our works be never so small servile womanish yet let but this title be added the Word of the Lord and then they will be all glorious yea such as shall remain to all eternity O Sirs all our works and services must bee wrought from God for God in God and according to God or else they will bee but splendida peccata glistering sins well the more spiritual and internal the principles motives and considerations are that carries a Christian on in religious duties the greater measure of holinesse hath that Christian arrived to But Ninthly The more solid precise exact and accurate a Christian is in religious duties and services the greater measure of holinesse that Christian hath attained to and the more any Christian grows in holinesse the more spiritual the more savory the more exact and accurate hee will grow in all his religious services and performances The more a Christians heart is endeared to religious duties the more his heart is affected with the heavenly nature of religious duties and the more easily the more holily the more freely the more spiritually he performs religious duties the more he is thriven grown in holiness A young Carpenter gives more blows makes more noise chips than an old experienced workman doth but the old experienced workman doth his work more solidly more exactly and more accurately than the young Carpenter doth So many young Christians that are but newly entred into the trade of Christianity and that are raised up but to a very small degree of sanctity these may multiply duties upon duties these may abound in religious performances these may bee much in adding of service to service but yet the aged and experienced Christian in grace and holinesse doth duties more solidly more spiritually more exactly and more accurately than the young Christian doth Wee must never judge of an eminency in holinesse by the number or multitude of our duties but by the seriousnesse the graciousnesse the solidnesse the spiritualnesse the holinesse the heavenlinesse and the accuratenesse of our hearts in duties A young Musitian may play longer and more quick and nimble upon an Instrument than an old Musitian can but yet the old Musitian playes with more art accuratenesse skill judgement and understanding than a young Musitian doth so young Christians in grace and holinesse may hold out