[Sidenote: Gods children cannot but desire spirituall health, as wel as life and Christian being.]
But grant all these, and the _assurance_ of a true and blessed _life_ of _grace_ within us?
Grant this _life_ is as the _life_ of _Christ_, never again to be extinguished. Yet who rejoyceth not in _health_, who mourns not under the _pains_ and _weaknesses_ of a sick bed?
Next therefore to the _discovery_ of _spirituall life_, all that are born of _God_ must try their _spirituall strength_, and _health_, and _chearfull temper_: The particular _instances_ whereof, being propounded as _examples_, _copies_, and _samplars_ for us to follow in the holy _Scripture_, I shall pick, and gather, and bind up, for both our _incouragement_, and comfort.
I confesse the beholding of such _heavenly patterns_ may astonish and amaze us, and make us dispair to attain to the like heavenly _temper_: I pray thee therefore (_dear love_) observe, (what before I said) that these _particulars_ next following are not _discouragements_ from _Christ_, as if we had no _life_ at all: but _incouragements_ to draw neerer to _Christ Jesus_, when we see such _virtue_ proceed out from him, to such poor _sinners_ like our selves.
These _particulars_ then following are as an holy _looking-glasse_, to discover to us our souls _spots_, & _blemishes_, as also sweet _cordial flowers_, to refresh and incourage our _drooping spirits_.
The severall particular _trialls_ of this _spirituall health_, and _chearfulnesse_, I shall bind up (as I may so speak) into three severall _parcells_, as sometimes we see sweet _flowers_ bound up into smaller _bundles_, to make up at last one larger _bundle_ or _posie_ in one.
The three severall sorts shall be according to that _division_ of the _holy Spirit_ by _Paul_ to _Titus_.
First such as concern _holines_, respecting our _communion_ with _God_ in _Christ Jesus_.
2. Such as concern _righteousnesse_, respecting others.
3. Such as concern _sobriety_, respecting our private _selves_ and _persons_.
[Sidenote: Incomprehensible nature of God.]
First, then it is an _argument_ of the _strength_, and _healthful temper_ of the _inner_ man, when our _apprehensions_ of _God_ are always such, as bring us to holy _wonderment_ and _amazement_, at the _nature_ of incomprehensible _God_, at his _properties_, and _works_, from the _Sun_ in the _Firmament_, to the poorest _Worme_, at his wonderfull _dispensing_ of his _justice_, and _mercy_, and _disposing_, and _ruling_ all things in _Heaven_, _Earth_, and _Seas_, from the highest _Angels_ in _heaven_, to the lowest _Devils_ in _Hell_.