The Young Mans Guide, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Containeth a direction unto Young men how to get a stock of Grace.
III. AT thy first setting up, content not thy self with a competent stock of mony to begin the World withal: but be sure likewise to get a good stock of Grace. Thou art to drive two Trades together, a trade for thy body, and a trade for thy soul, and each trade must have its distinct stock to be maintained upon. 'Tis like to be but poor trading, where there is no stock to begin upon. Thou maist as well drive a Trade for thy body without a stock of mony, as a Trade for thy soul without a stock of Grace. Get a stock of saving Grate, a stock of Faith and Love, and habitual holiness; upon the wise improvement of this, thou wilt grow rich unto God. This is the true riches, the best riches, a little of it is more worth than all the world. For,
1. Riches oft prove hurtful to the owners of them, Eccl. 5. 13. There is a sore evil, which I have seen under the Sun, namely riches kept for the Owners thereof to their hurt: proving oftentimes occasions of sin unto them, being the bellows of pride, and the fuel of Lust.
But Grace always proveth an exceeding great advantage to the Owners thereof. Never any man suffered by having too much grace. Its good upon all accounts: For it sanctifies mens earthly riches, teaching them how to use and improve them to the glory of God, the good of others, and comfort of their own Souls. Yea grace sanctifies not onelyonly blessings, but likewise crosses and afflictions, turning them to their good. For all things shall work together for the good of every gracious Soul, of every one that loves and fears God, Rom. 8. 28. Whereupon saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of Glory.
2. Worldly riches are uncertain, they make to themselves wings, and fly away, Prov. 23. 5. Sure it is, that within a short time, either they will be taken from us, or we from them; either they will leave us, or we must leave them. Yea they are such slippery ware, that the harder we graspe them, the sooner they will slip out of our hands.
Whereas Grace is a blossome of Eternity, which will abide with us for ever. It doth not only continue with us so long as we live here, but it endureth with us to all Eternity, therefore called durable riches, Prov. 8. 18.
I know some tell us of falling away from Grace. True it is, a Christian may lose,
1. The comfortable sense, and feeling of Grace, so that in his own apprehension it may be utterly lost.
2. He may lose some degree of saving Grace; for Faith is sometimes more lively and strong: and sometimes more dull and weak. Yea all Graces have their full and wane, their ebbings and flowings.
3. He may lose the powerful operation of Grace, I mean the acts of Faith, and other Graces may be intermitted and suspended, when as the Graces themselves are not abolished, but continue with us for ever.
In which respects you may discern the transcendent excellency of Grace above riches.
How should the consideration thereof prevail with you to labour in the use of all means God hath sanctified for the attainment thereof.
To help you therein take these Directions.
1. Mourn and weep (if possibly) for thy graceless condition; take up a lamentation and say, Woe and alas, that ever I was born, especially that I have lived thus long in a graceless condition, without God and without Christ in the World! O what will become of me, if I die in this estate? Surely hell and damnation must needs be my portion to all Eternity. Thus make thy closet an House of mourning, and know that the mourning of thy Soul will cause the earnings of God's bowels towards thee; so that he will not deny grace to a mourning Soul.
2. As thou wouldst have grace, frequent the means of grace. I mean the Ministry of the word, that being the ordinary instrument, whereby the Spirit of God, who is the principal Author of grace, doth convey grace into the hearts of sinners. Whereupon the Apostle Peter affirmeth, (1 Pet. 1. 23) That we are born a new, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God. Where by being born a new, is meant such a thorow change in us, whereby we are brought out of the state of nature into the state of grace; and so are made new Creatures, having an infusion of new and holy habits, or supernatural graces put into our hearts; which blessing is ordinarily wrought in us, through the Ministry of the Word, Acts 2. 41. We read of three thousand sinners, who had grace wrought in their souls, by one Sermon. Yea Acts 10. 44. It is said, Whilest Peter was preaching the Holy Ghoss fell on all them that heard the Word.
And therefore, O Young man, as thou desirest true saving grace, frequent the Ministry of the word, take all occasions of hearing the same, hoth in season and out of season. And for thine incouragement know, that as graceless and prophane hearts, as thine have been sanctified by the Spirit of God, as they have been attending upon the Ministry of the Word. And who knoweth but thou maist find the same effect of the Word upon thy soul, whilst thou art waiting upon it?
3. Beware thou neglect not the day of grace. There are certain seasons of Grace, when the Lord makes tenders and offers of grace to the Souls of poor sinners. Yea there is no man that lives in the bosome of the Church, but probably he hath his critical day, a certain time for grace, which if he neglect, it is a question, whether ever it will be offered to him again. Happy therefore, and thrice happy are they, who observe those seasons of grace, and know in their day, the things that concern their everlasting peace.
Now it may he God speaks home to thy Conscience, now he warms thine heart, and puts thereinto good purposes and resolutions. It will be therefore thy wisedome carefully to observe, and improve the same to thy Souls advantage, not suffering them carelesly to pass away; lest if thou lose the benefit of those blessed motions, thou lose life and salvation for ever.
Luke 19. 41, 42. Our Saviour tells the Jews, they had a day of grace, which because they slighted and neglected, they should never enjoy it again: the means of grace and salvation should be no more offered unto them. God being a just God, is it not just, that he should reject them for ever, who have for a long time rejected him? that he should turn a deaf ear unto them, crying unto him on their death beds for grace and mercy, who would not hearken unto him calling upon them in the day of his merciful visitation?
Whilest therefore the day of grace lasteth, whilest God stands knocking at the door of thine heart by the motions of his Spirit, and admonitions of his Ministers, speedily open to him, embrace his motions, be willing to follow the dictates of his Spirit in ways of obedience. Thou knowest not when thy day of graee will end. Though some mens day continueth to their old age, some to the day of their death: yet some mens day of grace may end in their youth and younger years. Thy first day may be thine only day for Heaven, loyter out that, and thence forth it may be night with thee for ever.
Therefore, O young man, how doth it concern thee to take the first and present season? Now hearken, now accept and submit to mercy, now give thy self unto God, be his faithful servant, to obey and serve him with all thy heart and strength, or the day may be lost, and thy soul lost for ever. Behold now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth, thou maist suddenly be taken from the means of grace, or the means of grace may be suddenly taken from thee. The Sun of heavenly light, which now shineth, may set, and thou be left in darkness. The gate of mercy now opened to thee, may be shut against thee. The things belonging to thy peace may be hid from thee. There is a time coming, and we know not how near it is, in which, (as Christ saith) many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able, Luke 13. 24. Oh what woful yelling, what pitiful crying, and earnest knocking will there be then at the gate, with Lord, Lord, open to us? But all in vain, having slighted, and neglected their day of grace, when they should have got Oyle into their Lamps and grace into their hearts,
4. Be earnest with God in prayer, who is the God of all grace, that be would be pleased to vouchsafe unto thee his holy sanctifying Spirit, which may quicken thy dead soul, infuse the grace of life, and make thee partaker of his holiness, whereby thou maist become a new Creature. Beg of God, that he would not put thee off with the things of this world, but together with his outward blessings, or whether thou have them or not, that he would bless thee with spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus; and that he would inrich thee in the Inner man, with his saving and sanctifying graces. What the Apostle Iames saith of Wisdom is true of all grace, If any one lack it, let him as… of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and … not, and it shall be given him, Jam. 1. 5.
O young man, may grace be had for asking? Ask, and ask, again, never keep silence, nor let fall thy suit till thou hast obtained. And in thy Prayers plead that gracious promise, Isa. 44. 3. I will pour Water upon him that is thirsty, and flouds upon the dry ground. That is, where there is no sap of grace, nor moisture of goodness, upon such, saith the Lord, will I pour out my water, my living water, my grace shall flow down upon him, and his soul shall be as a well watered garden.
Go therefore thou poor sinful soul, who never yet to this day hadst one drop of grace within thee, go thou to the Throne of Grace, go to the Fountain of Grace, lament thy sinful barren heart before God, and plead his promise of pouring the spiritual water of grace upon the barren thirsty soul: say unto him, Lord make good this good promise unto me, behold the dry and barren heart, upon which no dew or rain from above hath ever fallen, pity this hard and parched soul; a drop Lord, a drop from the fountain of living water. God of grace, give grace unto me, and effectually work it in me. And know for thy comfort, that if God hath given thee a sense of the want of grace, and an heart to pray for it, it is an hopeful sign that he intends to bestow it on thee.
5. Stir up in thy soul an earnest longing desire after grace. To that end consider the excellency thereof. Consider, I say the excellency of grace; it is the beam of the Divine Nature, a spark and ray of glory, which puts such an excellency upon a person, that all others are vile persons in comparison of him. A gracious soul is the rarest piece of all Gods workmanship, of more worth than all the wealth and riches in the world. Nothing so graceth a man as grace doth, being the image of God in man, whereby he becomes like unto his Creator, which is the greatest excellency that can be conferred on a Creature.
It was this that made all Gods servants so famous in their generation. It was not their wealth, their parts or the like, but their graces, their faith, their patience their zeal for God, and the like. These kept their names fresh, when the names of wicked, graceless wretches do rots and are perished. Grace is aromatical, it embalmes the living names of dead Saints: whereupon a gracious person, when he dies, is said to carry a good conscience with him, and to leave a good name behind him.
I grant that carnal men, through their ignorance of the true worth of Saints, being blind in spiritual matters, have a low and mean esteem of them. But could they look into their inward parts, and discern their true worth, they would acknowledge them all-glorious within, more precious than fine gold.
I shall close this Direction with a word to those who have some comfortable evidence of the truth of grace in their hearts, exhorting them that they content not themselves with any measure or degree of grace, but labour and strive after perfection, adding Grace to Grace, and growing from one degree of Grace unto another, till they be perfect men and women in Christ Jesus. Though you ought to be contented with a competency of worldly wealth, yet never talk of a competency of grace, nor take up with any degree of it already obtained, as if you had enough; and needed no more. St. Paul, though he was content with a little of the world, yet not with a little of grace: he reached forward, and pressed towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus, Phil. 3. 13, 14. It was the Motto of Charles the fifth, Plus ultra, that is, more yet, or further yet. And it ought to be every Christians Motto, Go on to perfection.
To perswade you thereuno take these Arguments.
1. Hereby you will gain a comfortable evidence of the truth of Grace in you. For true grace hath this property, that though it be weak, yet it will grow, and increase mightily, as he that loveth silver, is never satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase, saith the Wise man, Eccl. 5. 10. So he that hath true grace in him, will never think he hath enough of it, but will be ever desiring and endeavouring after more. They who have once tasted of the sweetness of grace, are not satisfied with a little, the more they drink, the more they thirst, till they have drank their full draught in the Kingdome of God. It may justly be doubted, whether there be any truth of grace, where there is not a desire, and endeavor after an encrease therein. It is an ill sign to sit down satisfied, and rest contented with a little. Sure thou hast none at all, who art satisfied with that little grace thou thinkest thou hast.
2. To stir you up to labour after a greater measure and higher degree of grace, consider, that after the work of grace hath been wrought in you, there is a great deal more work to be wrought by you; many lusts to be conquered, much corruption to be subdued, many temptations to be resisted, many graces to be exercised, several duties to be performed, many of them hard, and difficult to flesh, many great things to be done, and bitter things to be indured for Christ, you may be called to the fiery trial, and to suffer the loss of all that is dear unto you. How can you imagine to go through all all these works with a small degree of grace, and measure of strength?
3. The stronger Christians you are, the more helpful will you be unto others who are weak and infirm, and consequently the more honourable, for it is more honourable to give than to receive. Therefore how doth it concern you to strive to increase your store, that you may have by you to help the needy, and be useful in your generations, by instructing the ignorant, resolving the doubtful, comforting such as mourn, reproving such as are scandalous, converting such as are unconverted, strengthning such as are weak in grace: Oh what a Blessing might you be to all your relations! yea to all with whom you do converse! How should the ears that heard you bless you, yea and bless God for you Iob. 9. 11.