The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit

The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit
by Jeremiah Burroughs

“But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully, him will I bring into the land, wherein he went, and his seed shall possess it.” -Numbers 14:24

What kind of spirit do you have? Is it a spirit like the world, or is it different-another kind of spirit? In his book The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit, Jeremiah Burroughs challenges Christians to have a spirit different from the world. He uses the verse (above) from Numbers that describes the life of Caleb. What is another spirit? This book is in two parts-the first half tells what this spirit is and what kind of person possesses that spirit. Part two of the book shows how one must love God and serve Him with a gracious spirit.


According to Chapter 1, a gracious spirit is a "choice and precious spirit." This choice and precious spirit is:

1. Enlightened


2. Free -free from being ensnared and entangled with earthly engagements, such as a spirit of the world would have
   
3. Sublime, raised high by heavenly influences not swelling with pride


4. Firm, strong -strong to resist temptation, to overcome strong corruptions, strong to bear afflictions
   
5. Generous


6. "Another Spirit"- feeds on other (Godly) comforts-unlike those common spirits of the world

"It is a great honor to be a servant of the blessed God, and to be acknowledged so by God Himself. We should not look at our services to God only as duties enjoined, but as high privileges, as dignities put upon us that we should glory in His service."

Knowing now, what a choice and precious spirit is, Burroughs teaches us how we are, in particular, to manifest this spirit in ways different from others.

1. Self-denial-We are to overcome and "have command" of our spirits, subduing passions and violent stirrings that would dishonor God.


2. Love your enemies-Pray for your enemies and do all the good to them that you can.


3. Fear the least sin more than the greatest suffering. Oh, how often we will do anything to avoid suffering! How much more so should we flee from sin, even if it means great suffering.


4. Prize opportunities for service more than all outward contentments in the world.


5. Make conscience of time. "A man of excellent spirit knows how to employ himself in things that are excellent."


6. Pay attention to thoughts and secret workings of the heart. Beware of secret sins so that you may avoid them.


7. Be careful of the manner and method in which you perform holy duties.


8. Rejoice in the good of others, though it eclipses your light.


9. 
   
   "Let your spirits be stayed on God quietly and meekly commiting yourself and your cause to Him." "If in the times of our troubles the desires of our souls were to God's name and the rememberance of Him and not unto our own names, we would not have such sinking discouraged disquieted and vexing spirits as we have."


10. 
    
    Be careful to know the fountain from whence all your mercies come, and to have a sanctified use of them.

One that has this gracious spirit-that is, a choice and precious spirit-must be forgiven and truly following God. One that is truly following God will develop this gracious spirit. We must "serve God thoroughly from a spirit activated and motivated by His grace."