Twenty-Four Sermons, Sermon 20
SERMON XX.
June 1. 1697.
EPHES IV. vii.
But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the meaſure of the Gift of Chriſt.
2. POſitively.
1. There is ſome Grace given to every one, which ſhall never be loſt; even to the least Babe in Christ, the poorest and meanest Believer whatſoever. Alſo upon the Servants, and the Handmaids in thoſe Days will I pour out my Spirit, Joel 2.29. Every Member of Chriſt, even ſuch as we think to be leaſt honourable, hath this Honour beſtowed upon it, to be made a partaker of the Holy Ghoſt, and partaker of him ſo, as never to fall away. For this is a Gift which is without Repentance, Rom. 11.29. As to thoſe that are God's workmanſhip in Chriſt, it never Repents him that he hath new made them. Whom he once effectually draws, he never ſuffers abſolutely to draw back' The Devil may ſteal the Word out of Men's Hearts, before 'tis engraffed there by the Spirit, but afterwards he cannot.
2. There is Grace given to every one, which is of the ſame kind in every one. All God's Children, the little ones, as well as thoſe that are more advanc't to greater ripeneſs and maturity, have the ſame Divine Nature infus'd into them, 2 Pet. 1.4. They are all Created again after the Image of God, which as to the Subſtance of it, is the ſame in all, though there be ſome difference in leſſer Features. They all obtain like precious Faith, 2 Pet. 1.1. The Faith of God's Elect, is all alike, in regard of its main and principal Fruits. In every one, it purifies the Heart, overcomes the preſent World, realizes unſeen Things, though it does not work and act in every one with equal Vigour.
3. There are ſupplies of Grace given to every one; for as all Creatures do neceſſarily depend upon God for their natural Beings, ſo God's new Creatures eſpecially for the continuance and increaſe of their ſpiritual Life. From the Day that they firſt know the Grace of God in Truth, there are further Communications every Day of more Grace, both in order to Eſtabliſhment and Growth. How much ſoever God hath already vouchſaf'd it would be of fatal Conſequence, if he ſhould ſtop his Hand. God is always giving, that we may retain and improve what we have receiv'd before. Hoſ. 6.3. He ſhall come unto us as the Rain, as the latter and former Rain unto the Earth: As the former Rain which opens the Womb of the Earth to take in the Seed, and as the latter which ſerves to plump and ſwell the Fruit.
4. There is Grace given to every one ſuitable to their Condition. 1 Cor 7.7. Every Man hath his proper Gift of God, (foreign) a Gift peculiar to himſelf; one after this manner, and another after that. As Chriſt ſpeaks of a ſaying, Which all Men cannot receive, ſave they to whom 'tis given, Mat. 19.11. Some Men have leſs maſtery over their Affections, and God by his wiſe Providence caſts their Lot accordingly. Some are exercis'd with more Temptations, and ſuch God furniſhes with more Strength to reſiſt and ſtand againſt them. Some are call'd to more eminent Services, and then God enlarges their Capacity of performing them. It is ſtill ſo manag'd by him who knows our Neceſſity, that they whoſe Condition requires moſt Grace, have moſt.
V. What Proportion and Similitude does the Grace given to us, bear to the Grace which was in Christ? Here Premiſe a few Things to prevent miſunderſtanding, and then State the Truth it ſelf.
1. To Premiſe a few Things, to prevent miſunderstanding. As
1. That Grace in Christ to which the Grace in Believers bears any Proportion, is to be understood of his Grace as Man, the Grace which was communicated to his Humane Nature. Pſalm 45.2. Thou art fairer than the Children of Men; Grace is poured into thy Lips. His gracious Words, which often ſtruck the Hearers with wonder and amazement, flowed from this Spring; and therefore in that Character which the Spouſe gives of him. His Lips are deſcrib'd like Lilies dropping ſweet ſmelling myrrh, Song 5.13. Jeſus Chriſt as God, was the God of all Grace, the Original Fountain of it in himſelf, and Author of it to us; as Man he was a Veſſel that receiv'd it by Derivation; it was truly given to him, as it was given to the firſt Man Adam. When God created him. And this is that Grace of Chriſt, which our Grace does eſpecially reſemble.
2. The Grace which is given by Christ to every one of his Members, is not the ſame individual Grace which was given to him by the Father. We are not endowed with that very ſame particular inherent Holineſs which he was, for then we muſt ſuppoſe him to be diveſted of it at the ſame Time. Thoſe gracious Qualities which were lodg'd in Chriſt, cannot be transferr'd to us, for Qualities cannot paſs from one Subject to another, or belong to more than one at once. The ſame Righteouſneſs which Chriſt fulfill'd, is imputed and reckon'd to us for our Juſtification; as the ſame Money which the Surety lays down, is judicially and legally accounted to be paid by the Debtor; but the ſame righteous Habits cannot be infus'd into Chriſt and Believers, not the ſame in number, though the ſame in Kind. The Caſe is plain, becauſe the Perſon of Chriſt, and the Perſons of Believers are really diſtinct; they are united indeed, but not by a perſonal Union (for then there would be as many Chriſts, as there are Believers, whereas there is but one Lord Jeſus Chriſt) they make up one Myſtical Body, but not one natural Perſon; therefore his Grace and theirs muſt numerically differ.
3. The Grace given to Christ, was to ſerve ſome ſpecial Purpoſes and Ends, which the Grace given to us is not adapted for. He was not only made under the Ceremonial Law, and under the Moral, as others were, but under a peculiar Law, which concern'd himſelf only, Gal. 4.4. There is a vaſt Difference between the Work of Chriſt as Mediator, and the Work of an ordinary Chriſtian; and therefore beſides the ſtock of habitual Grace, of which his Manhood was poſſeſt, he had the Godhead alſo to ſupport him; and there was abſolute need of it. There was more Service and Duty incumbent upon Jeſus Chriſt, than ever was upon any meer Creature before or ſince. The Active and Paſſive Obedience of Chriſt exceeds all that any Man was ever called to do or ſuffer. Our work under the Influence of his Grace, hath a ſubordinate Reſpect to our own Salvation, he was to work out the Salvation of all his Elect in a way of proper Merit and Satisfaction.
4. The Grace in him, and in us are not equally perfect; they are not like Parallel Lines which run the ſame length. No Believer can pretend to be ſo full of Grace, as he was; our receivings are far from coming up to the ſame meaſure with his. Chriſt had an extraordinary anointing in a larger Quantity; we have it drop't in Compariſon upon us. He as the Sun of Righteouſneſs, Mal. 4.2. We as twinkling Stars; He as the King of Righteouſneſs, Heb. 7.2. We as Inferiour Subjects. Grace is Chriſt was like Water in a wide Sea which hath no viſible Bounds; Grace in us, is like Water in a little Brook, or a narrow River. Grace in him, was in ſinleſs Perfection at the firſt, in us it is never ſo, while we are in this World; there are mixtures of ſinful Infirmity with all the Grace which we have or Exerciſe. He had abundance of Grace clouded with no Corruption, we compar'd with him, have a great deal of Corruption beſetting a little Grace.
2. To State the Truth it ſelf, as it is in this Caſe.
1. The Grace which is in Believers bears ſome Proportion and Similitude to the Grace which is in Chriſt, as it proceeds from one and the ſame Spirit. The Spirit of the Lord ſhall reſt upon him, and make him of quick Ʋnderſtanding in the Fear of the Lord, Iſa. 11.2, 3. All Holy Communications to Chriſt and us are the immediate Effects of this Bleſſed Spirit, the Third Perſon in the Godhead. He was ſanctified by the Holy Ghoſt, when he was ſent into the World, ſo are we, when called out of the World, and tranſlated into his inviſible Kingdom. As Chriſt gives us the ſame Glory, Which the Father gave to him, John 17.22. So he fills us with the ſame Divine Spirit which he had himſelf.
2. Chriſt's Grace and ours have one general Scope and Aim, viz. The glorifying of God. No Grace can be of the right Seed, but what is levell'd at the Honour of the Giver. As it is God's Deſign in giving it, ſo it will be our Deſign in acting it, if it be acted with Integrity. Chriſt who had ſo rich a Furniture of Grace, ſought not his own Glory, nor the exalting of himſelf: But he glorified God on the Earth, John 17.4. This is what he had an Eye to in all he did; ſo every Believer intends and purſues the ſame Thing: 'Tis as much his buſineſs to glorifie God, as it is his Pleaſure to enjoy him. Grace conſecrates even his natural Actions to ſerve and promote this noble End; the Actions of Eating and Drinking, which in others are only perform'd for Neceſſity, or elſe for Luſt, 1 Cor. 10.31.
3. As Chriſt had every Grace, ſo hath the Believer, though none in the highſt Degree. Our Lord Jeſus was a compleat Copy of univerſal Righteouſneſs; none could ſay to him, as he ſaid to the Young Man, One Thing thou lackeſt. So as to the kinds of Grace, they that belong to Chriſt, are likewiſe perfect and entire, wanting nothing, James 1.4. And they ſtand compleat in all the Will of God, Col. 4.12. they are not endued with ſome Graces, and deſtitute of others; but where one is, there is all. If a a Liar, &c. 1 John 4.20. Theſe Things are not ſeparable, any more than you can divide Chriſt from himſelf. Whereſoever Faith is, there is Repentance, and new Obedience; that's a Counterfeit Faith, which is alone; 'tis Dead, and therefore cannot be true, James 2.17. Saving Graces are always in Connection; They make up the one Chain on the Spouſes Neck, which raviſhes the Heart of Chriſt, Song 4.9.
4. The Matter of his Grace and ours is the ſame. The new Creature is therefore ſet forth by Chriſt formed in us, Gal. 4.19. Becauſe of the Agreement and Conformity betwixt the ſtamp of God's Holineſs upon the Humane Soul of Chriſt, and the Souls of them that believe. Hence the ſame Mind is ſaid to be in us, as was in him, Phil. 2.5. The ſame humble, meek, ſelf-denying, ſelf-reſigning Temper. So he that doth Righteouſneſs, is Righteous, even as he is Righteous, 1 John 3.7. 'Tis the ſame Rule of Righteouſneſs obſerv'd by both, and ſo the ſame ſpecifical Work of Righteouſneſs perform'd by both. That Law which was perfectly obey'd by Chriſt, is ſincerely obey'd by all that are Chriſt's. A new Commandment write I unto you, which Thing is true in him, and in you, 1 John 2.8. That Law which was in his Heart, is in ours, if we be Partakers of Chriſt; and that which govern'd his exemplary Life, will govern ours alſo.
Ʋſe. Many Things follow from hence, both for our Learning and Practiſe.
1. For our Learning. As
1. If Grace it ſelf be given, then nothing done by the help of Grace, can be meritorious of Glory. If our firſt ſtock, and all our Improvements are from God, and vouchſafed freely, What Reward can we challenge for any thing we do? God is ſo much before-hand with us, that he can never be oblig'd or indebted to us; if we were capable of firſt giving to him, we might expect a recompence and requital; but (ſays God) Who hath prevented me, that I ſhould repay him? Job 41.11. We do not prevent God with Duty, but he prevents us with Grace; and therefore we owe all that we can do to God, and a great deal more, we can never anſwer the Engagements which we are under, nor diſcharge the thouſandth part of what he might require from us; ſo that 'tis impoſſible for the leaſt or loweſt Degree of Favour to be due from him. All our returns of Service and Obedience to God are built upon the Foundation of Grace receiv'd, we do but give him of his own, as David ſaid, 1 Chron. 29.14. And therefore the Gift of Eternal Life cannot flow from diſtributive Juſtice, but muſt be a further Act of undeſerved Bounty.
2. If Grace be given, Glory cannot be denied; for though Glory is not merited by Grace, yet always entailed upon it, becauſe the ſame Mercy is the conſtant never failing Spring of both. The Lord will give Grace and Glory, Pſalm 84.11. Theſe Things are continually coupled, like the Creatures which enter'd into Noah's Ark, two by two of every Kind (Gen. 7.15.) as God never gives Glory, where he with-holds his Grace; ſo on the other ſide, where Grace is diſpenſed, Glory is never kept back. Indeed Glory is but the perfecting of the Gift of Grace; the Difference betwixt them is only gradual; Grace is Glory in the Bud, and Glory is Grace full blown. Therefore the Names of Grace and Glory are promiſcuouſly given to one another; ſometimes Grace is ſtiled Glory, 2 Cor. 3. ult. And ſometimes Glory called Grace, 1 Pet. 1.13.
3. If Grace be given to every one that is in Chriſt, then every ſuch one is worthy of our Affection and Eſteem. Whereſoever the Truth of Grace is, it calls for more of our Love and inward Reſpect, than all the Wealth, and Power, and Greatneſs in the World. The ſmalleſt grain of ſaving Faith is more precious than thouſands of Gold and Silver, and 'tis ſo precious in all that have it, that one ſhould not be ſet up in Competition with another. Every gracious Perſon is really amiable and valuable, and therefore a partial Regard to ſuch or ſuch only, is ſinful and groundleſs. No one is to be preferr'd, ſo as that another ſhould be undervalued; one is not to be had in Admiration and another in Contempt; but all are to be lookt upon as Heirs together of the Grace of Life. He that ſincerely Loves any one for the ſake of Holineſs (without little by Reſpects) will love all Saints on the ſame account.
4. If Grace be given to every one according to a particular meaſure, it muſt needs be dangerous to attempt more than this meaſure will extend to. 'Tis unwarrantable Preſumption to undertake what is above our Reach and beyond our Strength. Therefore David ſays, That he did not exerciſe himſelf in great Matters, nor in Things too high for him, Pſalm 131.1. He that deſires the Office of a Goſpel-Biſhop deſires a good work, and yet Novices are forbidden it, 1 Tim. 3.1. with 6. Our ſanctified Abilities are only in Part, and deſign'd of God to fit us for that Place and Calling in which we are. Over-bold adventuring, where we are uncall'd, may expoſe us to Temptations unaſſiſted. Peter's raſh Zeal in the Garden, was a means of betraying him to ſinful Cowardiſe in the Palace of the High-Prieſt. The Evangeliſt therefore takes notice of his being queſtion'd by a Kinſman of Malchus, whoſe Ear he had cut off, John 18.26.
5. If Grace be given from Chriſt to every one, 'tis the great concern of every one to know him, and the main Work of thoſe whom be ſends, to make him known. If he be all, and in all, Col. 3.11. If he be the common Publick Treaſury, out of which every Soul is ſpiritually enricht, and we have nothing but what comes through his Hands firſt, we have nothing, if we are ignorant of him. And they do little Service to the Churches who only bow at his Name, and make no mention of his Righteouſneſs or Grace; they that pretend to come from him, and are ſilent concerning him, ſeem like to Meſſengers that have forgot their Errand, and tell a formal Story which hath no Relation to it, and ſignifies nothing to them that hear it. Such as expect any ſhare of his ſaving Benefits, ſhould ſeek to be led into Acquaintance with his Perſon.
6. If there be ſuch a Likeneſs and Affinity between the Grace which was in Chriſt, and which is in thoſe that belong to him, they are no Chriſtians, that do not Reſemble Chriſt, and that are not Imitators of him. This is that which makes all real Chriſtians truly glorious, and the Glory of Chriſt, as the Woman is ſaid to be the Glory of the Man, 1 Cor. 11.7. She reflects the excellencies of the Man, ſo do they the Excellencies of Jeſus Chriſt. As Face anſwers to Face in the Glaſs, ſo do they to him. They are planted in the ſimilitude of his Death and Reſurrection; i. e. made conformable to both, Rom. 6.5. Phil. 3.10. As they are Created in Chriſt, ſo they are Created after his Model. They are his Brethren, and he the firſt-born among them; and as the firſt in every Kind uſes to be a ſtandard and preſident to the reſt, ſo is he. Conſequently, they do not abide in Chriſt, nor are they related to him, that do not imitate his walk, and follow his ſteps. We ſhall never have Bodies like unto his glorious Body, except we have Souls like his; if we do not bear his heavenly Image now, we ſhall not at the laſt. We deceive our ſelves with vain Hopes, and others with a vain Profeſſion.
2. For Practiſe. To thoſe that are yet graceleſs, and to them that are truly gracious.
1. What ſhould they do, that are yet gracleſs? (For ſome of that ſort may without breach of Charity be ſuppos'd in every Aſſembly; we never read but of one ſo pure, as to be without ſuch a mixture; and that was, when Chriſt Preacht his Farewel Sermon to his Diſciples, John 14.15, 16. Chapters, after Judas was gone out, Chap. 13.30, 31, &c.)
1. Labour to be ſenſible of your wretchedneſs, while entirely under the Power of Sin, and the Servants of Coruption. If ſo great and good a Man as Paul cried out of himſelf as wretched, becauſe deliver'd only in part from the Body of Death, Rom. 7.24. How much more miſerable muſt you be, that are not at all deliver'd from it? When the ſecond Temple was building, which was greatly Inferiour to the former, God puts it to the People, Who is left among you, that ſaw this Houſe in her firſt Glory? And how do you ſee it now? Is it not in your Eyes in Compariſon thereof, as nothing? Hag. 2.3. So if any of us had ever ſeen the Humane Nature cloathed with Original Righteouſneſs before the entrance of Sin, which was our Houſe in its Primitive Glory, what a woful ruinous heap ſhould we diſcern it now to be?
2. Improve this Conviction to the deepeſt Humiliation. The moſt proſtrate Frame of Soul, is always the Foundation which God laies and builds upon. He giveth Grace to the lowly and humble, Prov. 3.34. James 4.6. 1 Pet. 5.5. The Spirit of God, which deſcends like a Dove, does uſually light upon the Ground, not upon high and lofty Trees. The firſt ſtep of Paul's Converſion, who had been an haughty Supercilious Phariſce before, lifting up himſelf, as the reſt of that Sect did, was his falling to the Earth, Acts 9.4. Fountains are not wont to break out in the Tops of Hills; but it is the Method of God in Nature, to ſend the Springs into the Valleys, Pſalm 104.10. And all Waters run into the loweſt Places; ſo do the Influences of Grace fall upon thoſe that are moſt abaſed in their own Minds.
3. Go to God in Chriſt by Prayer for this bleſſed Gift. It was never denied to any one that ſincerely ſought it in this Way. Direct your Prayers particularly to Chriſt himſelf, to whom the Diſpenſation of Grace is committed. Remember his Words to the Woman of Samaria, John 4.10. If thou kneweſt the Gift of God, and who it is, &c. thou wouldſt have asked of him, and he would have given, &c. He is as willing to beſtow it, as he is able; believe this, and apply to him accordingly. We may err in the reſtraining of all our Worſhip to the Father, as if none were due to the Son. Why ſhould not we addreſs as well to our Lord Jeſus to renew our Spirits, as Stephen, to receive his Spirit?
4. Reſolve not to be ſatisfi'd or diſmiſs'd without this Gift. This may be ſafely reſolv'd, and 'tis a Reſolution very pleaſing to God. If you do but ſay, with full Purpoſe of Heart, as Jacob did, I will not let thee go, &c. He cannot wreſt himſelf out of your Hands, but you muſt aſſuredly prevail. If you give God any reſt, you may look for a Refuſal; if you can be Content without Grace, you will never receive it. The Rich who feel not the Extremity of Want, are but indifferent Beggars, and therefore God ſends them empty away, Luke 1.53. Take hold of God's Feet, and go not from his Throne of Grace, till you have obtain'd what you go for.
5. Be found in the ordinary Road of receiving; as the People that brought their Sick into the Streets, and laid them on Beds and Conches, in the way, where Peter was to paſs, Acts 5.15. They that are deſirous of the Alms of ſpiritual Wiſdom, muſt attend at Wiſdoms-gates, where the Alms are generally given out. 'Tis wicked Preſumption to expect Grace from God in a careleſs neglect of the Means of Grace. They that truſt in them, and they that forbear to uſe them, are both far from the Kingdom of God. If Faith comes by hearing, 'tis our Duty to wait for it in Hearing, and not to think that it ſhould be wrought by Miracle.
6. Put away as much as lies in your Power, all that tends to hinder this Gift of Grace. Though you are unable to qualifie your ſelves for it, unable to prepare the way of the Lord in your own Hearts, yet to do what you are able to do, is certainly ſuch Advice as you ought to take. You cannot mortifie the inward Love of Sin, but you can keep your ſelves from many outward Acts of Sin. You cannot (it may be) overcome ſome Temptations, when you are in them, but you can chuſe whether you'will run deſignedly into them. Now he that pretends to look up to God for Grace, and at the ſame time wilfully obſtructs it by his own contrary Practiſe, is a groſs and ſhameful Hypocrite.
2. To thoſe that are truly gracious? What ſhall they do?
1. Do not diſown this Gift. This is miſtaken Modeſty, and real unthankfulneſs. We ought not to make our ſelves Poor, when we have great Riches; as if we were hir'd by the Accuſer of the Brethren to bear falſe Witneſs againſt our ſelves. The Saints that are in Chriſt Jeſus, gratifie the Father of lies as much by ſaying they have no Grace, as by ſaying, they have no Sin. For a Man to proclaim his own goodneſs is a fault on one Hand, to deny it, is an extream on the other Hand. The Apoſtle hath directed us to the true medium, Rom. 12.3. I ſay, through the Grace given unto me, to every Man that is among you, not to think of himſelf more highly than he ought to think, but to think ſoberly, &c.
2. Be ſure to acknowledge it as a Gift. Be not pufft up with that which comes down from above. If thou didſt receive it, why doſt thou Glory, as if thou hadſt not received it, 1 Cor. 4.7. As we are not to boaſt of things without our meaſure, ſo things within our meaſure, are no juſt ground or matter of boaſting. If God hath given that to us which he hath not to others, what Reaſon have we to be proud of it? If we had earned it by our own Induſtry and Labour, Activity and Diligence, we might have ſome Cloak for ſpiritual Pride; but as it is, we have none at all.
3. Take heed of luſting to Envy againſt thoſe that go beyond you. There is a ſifnul Emulation in holy things; a repining at that wherein we ſhould Rejoyce, a ſecret Grief that others do ſo well, inſtead of an hearty ſhame, that we do no better. For the Cure of this, remember all is given; and if your Gift be leſs than another Man's, you muſt not murmur and complain, as if God had done you any wrong. Bleſs God that ſome have the Grace which you want, and by that means are more ſerviceable than you.
4. Do not think however that a little of this Grace is enough, or any meaſure ſhort of Perfection. Be ſtill crying, Give, give; continue ſtill ſucking at the ſame … till you are fill'd with all the fulneſs of …. This is no evil Covetouſneſs, but that which is requiſite and laudable. We are not only oblig'd to endeavour the preſerving and cheriſhing of the Grace we have, but to look after increaſe, and the getting of more. And we are encourag'd to this, becauſe the firſt Grace is a Gift which makes way for more, Mat. 25.29. To every one that hath ſhall be given, &c.
5. Exerciſe Faith upon Jeſus Chriſt, for conſtant Succour and Aſſiſtance in all your Times of Need. Whatſoever Service or Suffering you are called to, you cannot have occaſion for more Grace than he hath to impart. He is able to make all-Grace abound towards you, 2 Cor. 9.8. And let the difficulty be what it will, his Grace is as ſufficient for you, as it was for Paul, under his ſore and grievous Buſſetings, Chap. 12.9. How low ſoever your Stock be, his is not to be exhauſted; and that which is moſt impoſſible to your weakneſs, is moſt eaſie in his Strength
6. Lay out faithfully all that you receive, for the Good and Benefit of others, as well as your own. It would be better not to be entruſted with any Talent, than not to employ it to the utmoſt Advantage. God gives us nothing but what we are to Profit withal; and it would be ſad if we ſhould give the worſt Account of the beſt Gifts Whatſoever is beſtow'd upon any Member in Particular, ſhould be ſo manag'd as that it may be ſome way uſeful to the Body in general, 1 Pet. 4.10. As every Man hath received the Gift, even ſo Miniſter the ſame one to another, as good Stewar… … &c. The Grace of God is manifold, and … are differing, but all is to be miniſtred, by us to others, and by others to us;we are Stewards of his Grace, and if we be not good Stewards, we ſhall never be Heirs of his Glory.