Grace, Sermon 2
Sermon II. At Lawrence Jury, London. 1650.
1 KING. 14. part of the 13. verſe.
—Becauſe in him there is found ſome good thing towards the Lord God of Iſrael, in the houſe of Jeroboam.
HAving diſpatched the Obſervations which may be gathered from the circumſtance in the Text, I come to that main Doctrine which I intend to handle, which is;
God doth not onelyonly exactly take notice of,Doct. but alſo tenderly cheriſh, and graciouſly reward the ſmalleſt beginnings, and weakeſt meaſures of grace, which he works in the hearts of his own people.
I might produce a cloud of teſtimonies to confirm this point. Our Saviour Chriſt ſaid, that be wil not break the bruiſed reed, nor quench the ſmoking flax. Obſerve,Mat. 12. 20 it is not ſaid; the ſtrong Oak ſhal not be broken, but the bruiſed reed ſhall not be broken; not the light and flaming torch, but the ſmoking flax, ſhal not be quenched.—Smoking flax, where there is but little fire, and much ſmoke of infirmity, yet Chriſt will not quench it,Verba p…iu… ad cor noſtrum quàm ad cor Dei accommodata. i. e. he will-cheriſh it; here is the figure Meioſis, here is leſſe ſpoken then intended.—He will be ſo far from quenching, that he will cheriſh the ſmoking fl…x; as in another place God is ſaid,Pſal. 51. 17 that he will not deſpiſe a broken heart, i. e. He will highly eſteem it.
Solomon ſpeaks of the fig-tree putting forth her green figs, and the Vine with her tender grapes gives a good ſmell, that is, the little meaſure and weak beginnings of grace in young Converts, do pleaſe the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and are as a ſweet ſmel in his noſtrils. Again, Chriſt ſaith,Cant. 2. 13. Let us ſee if the vine flouriſh, whether the tender gr…p… appear, and the pomegranate bud forth. The green buds regarded by Chriſt as well as the ripe and grown fruit.Cant. 7. 1….
In opening of the Doctrine, I ſhall endeavour to clear theſe two things;
1. That ſome of Gods people have but weak meaſures and ſmall beginnings of grace.
2. Though there be but a little grace, yet God will regard and reward it.
1. That ſome of Gods people have but a little grace,—,1. Propſition. have but the beginnings of grace wrought in their ſouls.
In the handling whereof are three things,
1. The truth of the Propoſition may be made good from the Scriptures.
2. I will lay down notes of diſcovery, to know ſuch as have but ſmall meaſures of grace wrought in them.
3. And then ſhew why God in his wiſdom will not ſuffer his people to be all of an equall ſtrength and ſtature in grace.
1. How douth it appear that ſome of Gods people are but weak in grace?1 Queſt
1. By the different names and titles that are given unto Chriſtians in holy Scriptures,1. Anſw. arguing they are of different meaſure and growth in grace. 1.sRom. 15. 1 Some are called ſtrong men, and others weak. 2. Some are called t1 Cor. 3. 1Babes in Chriſt, and others called grown men. 3.1 Joh. 2. 14 Some are calleduIſa. 61. 3. Trees of Righteouſneſ…, Pſal: 92. 12Plants of renown, Mat. 12. 20that grow like Cedars in Lebanon: Others are but a bruiſed reed. Some arexCant. 1. 8. Kids in Chriſts flock, and Lambs: 1 Joh. 21. 15, 16, 17.Others are as the He-Goats that go ſtately before the flock. 4. Some have grace flaming forth in much zeal and vivacity, they haveyIſa. 4. 4. the ſpirit of burning; and others are but ſmoking flax, i. e. Chriſtians that have much of the ſmoke of infirmity, & but little of the flame of grace.
2. By the Analogy that is between ſpiritual and natural differences of age,2 Anſw. ſtrength, and ſtature in man; the Holy Scripture exactly ſets down all the different degrees of grace, under the ſimilitude of the different ages of men.
1. There is azGal. 4. 19 forming of Chriſt in the heart, and ſo a ſpiritual conception.
2. There are thoſe that are but new-born Babes in Chriſt.1 Pet. 1. 23 &c. 2. 2.
3. There are ſome that are advanced from infancy to be Young-men.1 Joh. 2. 13
4. There are ſome that are grown men in Chriſt,ibid. Old men.—And all this doth but ſet forth the different degrees of grace that are in Chriſtians, ſome having leſs ſome more. —In the Church of Chriſt, which is his Orchard, there are trees of all ſorts, Spikenard and Saffron, Calamus and Cynamon with all trees of Frankinzenſe,Cant. 2. 14 Myrre and Aloes,Brightman. &c. Brightman on this Scripture notes, that hereby is meant the ſeveral ſorts of Chriſtians. Spikenard & Saffron are young weak Profeſſors; theſe are tender Plants that ſcarce lift up the head above the ground. Calamus & Cynamon which are ſhrubs of two cubits high, more Chriſtians of a middle ſize; & the other trees note Chriſtians of a more eminent meaſure and growth in grace.
A ſecond queſtion, How may a man know himſelf,2 Queſt. that be is but of a little meaſure and ſmall beginning in grace?
1. To be much in dependance on duties,Anſw. 1. argues thou art but weak in grace. A young Chriſtian is like a young Carpenter, he makes many chips, & hath many blows, but doth not make ſuch ſmooth work as an experienced Carpenter, who will make fewer chips, and at fewer blows better work: ſo young Chriſtians, they are much in the uſe of duty, but they are ap to relie upon duty; they think duties make them Saints, & they are apt to make Saviours of their duties. Young Chriſtians are 1. Affectionate in duties, and 2. Frequent in their duties. 3. And ſee not their failings in their duties, and ſo are apt to reſt on their duties. As it is a ſigne of an Apoſtate Profeſſor to caſt off duty, ſo alſo a note of a young and weak Profeſſor to reſt too much upon his duties.
2. A weak Chriſtian is not clearly inſighted into the cloſe & ſpirituall failings,Aaſw. 2. which cleave to his performances. He doth ſee his gifts, and takes notice of his affections, but he doth not ſee the vanity of his minde, the unſoundneſs of his ends, his carnal dependance upon his duty, ſelf-love and vaine glory; but in tract of time a grown Chriſtian doth take notice of theſe things in himſelf; an experienced Chriſtian will take as much notice of his failing in duty, as of his ability in it, and though he diſcerne an inlargement of gifts and graces in him at ſome times; yet he ſtill diſcerns much ſpiritual pride, popular applauſe, oſtentation of gifts, too much forwardneſſe in ſetting out his parts, which a weak Chriſtian ſeldom perceives.
3. To have a ſcrupulous conſcience aboutAnſw 3. matters of indifferency argues a weak Chriſtian;Rom. 14. 1. for ſo the Apoſtle cals them, weak in the faith, Rom. 15. 1.ſuch as did binde the conſcience when the Scriptures left it free. One believer thought he might eat any thing, and another doubted of the lawfulnes of eating ſundry things. Now thoſe that doubted, the Apoſtle cals*Rom 14. 21. Weak; and the weak conſcience is apt to be defiled. Not to know our liberty, & to abuſe our liberty,1 Cor. 8. 7. c. 9. 2. is an argument we have but little grace. Young Converts make more ſinners then ever God made, they perplex and intangle themſelves meerly in indifferent things. It is true, there ought to be a conſciencious tenderneſſe in all Chriſtians: tenderneſſe of conſcience is our duty, but a tormenting, intangling ſcrupuloſity is our infirmity: and yet as a weak Chriſtian is better then no Chriſtian, a weake faith is better then a dead faith; ſo a ſcrupulous conſcience is better then a ſeared conſcience.
4. To be ſo intently ſet on the exerciſes of Religion as to neglect our particular callings,Anſw. 4. is a ſigne we are but weak in grace. It was a good ſaying of that famous man of God, Dr. Sibbs; I like that Chriſtian well, that will hear much and live much, that, will pray much and work much. Dr. Sibbs.In young Converts their affections are ſtrong and ſtirring, and they think they can never hear enough, and they many times do neglect the duties of their callings, which doth argue their weakneſſe and infirmity. An experienced grown Chriſtian, is regular in his general and particular calling; ſo as the one ſhall not juſtle and hinder the other.
5. To have mens perſons in admiration argues weakneſſe in grace;Anſw. 5, ſuch were the Corinthians who had mens perſons in admiration: the Apoſtle calls them, Children, Babes and poor, low, and carnall Chriſtians: Babes, though they had the life of Chriſtians; yet they had but little of the ſtrength of Chriſtians. —They were carnal, 1 Cor. 3. 1, 4.they ſavoure'd more of the fleſh then of the Spirit. Ignorance is often a cauſe of admiration; weak Chriſtians who have but little knowledge, are apt to be ſo taken with mens perſons, that one cryes, I am of Paul,Jam. 2. 1. foreign. and another, I am of Apollo, and ſo fall into the ſin condemned of having the faith of Chriſt with reſpect of perſons, to cry up one Miniſter, and to cry down others. To idolize ſome, & to deſpiſe others argues that thou art weak in faith. A ſolid Chriſtian loves all good miniſters, and can contemne none.
6. To be eaſily ſeduced and led away into error, argues but weakneſſe in grace.Anſw. 6. Thoſe the Apoſtle calls Children who are toſſed to and fro, Eph. 4. 14.and carried about with every winde of doctrine. Weakneſſe of head doth argue that grace is not very ſtrong in thy heart. The way not to fall from our ſtedfaſtneſſe, is, to grow in grace; for the Apoſtle Peter doth joyn thoſe two duties together,2 Pet. 3. 17 18. having given a caution, verſ. 17. not to fall from ſteadfaſtneſſe, verſ. 18. He gives counſel to grow in grace; ſtrong Chriſtians are ſtedfaſt, whereas weak ones are inconſtant; and therefore thoſe Profeſſors that have been whirl'd about with divers opinions, it is an evidence they have but weak grace, if any.
7. Such as are only acquainted with the common Principles of Religion,Anſw. 7. without further ſearch into the depths and myſteries of Religion.—There are ſome Profeſſors who may be fitly ſtiled Babes in Chriſt, becauſe they have need of milk, being unskilfull in the Word of Righteouſneſſe,Heb. 5. 12, 13. that is, in the more ſolid doctrines of the Goſpel, concerning Chriſt, who is our Righteouſneſs. Thus the Diſciples and Apoſtles of Chriſt knew but little of the myſtery of our Redemption at firſt, and were ignorant concerning theaLuke 9. 45. Paſſſion of Chriſt, of thebMar. 9. 10. Reſurrection, as alſo of thecJohn 10, 16, 17. Aſcenſion of Chriſt, till the Holy Ghoſt came and taught them theſe things, and brought thoſe things to remembrance that Chriſt had taught them.
8. Weak Chriſtians are ſtrong in affections,Anſw. 8. and not in judgment, they have uſually more heat then light; young Chriſtians are like young horſes, they have much metal, but are not ſo fit for a journey, becauſe they are not ſo through paced: there are many Chriſtians that have much zeal and affection, but are not ſo ſolid in their judgments; but this argues much weakeneſſe in grace.
9. A weak Chriſtian is one that cannot bear reproof.Anſw. 9. Sharp weather will diſcover whether thou art of a weak or ſound body;—ſo a ſharp reproof will diſcover whether thou art of a weak ſpiritual temper & conſtitution. When Nathan came to David he could bear the reproof, though the Prophet told him to his face, He was the man that had ſinned; but Aſa, 2 Sam. 12. 7.though a good man, could not endure the faithfull reproof of a Prophet,2 Chron. 16. 10. But was wroth with the Seer, and put him in the priſon-houſe.
10. A weak Believer is one that can truſt God for his ſoul,Anſ. 10. but not for his body.—So Jeſus Chriſt argues that thoſe had little faith, Mat. 6. 30.who did expect heaven and happineſſe from God their Father, and durſt truſt him with their ſouls and eternal concerments, & yet durſt not truſt him for food & raiment. There are thoſe that dare truſt God for heaven, and yet not truſt him for earth, but theſe are foreign of little faith. The Diſciples when they wanted bread,foreign. began to reaſon amongſt themſelves how they ſhould be ſupplyed. —Oh ye of little faith (ſaith Chriſt) Why do you thus reaſon? Mat. 16. 8.Can you truſt me for the bread of eternal life, and dare you not truſt me for the bread of this life?
Be not then diſcouraged you that diſcern in your ſelves but ſmall meaſures of grace;1 Vſe. look on your wants and imperfections, ſo as to grow in grace, and not to be content with any meaſure: But look not on the ſmall beginnings in grace, as diſcouragement to you. When you ſee in a field a great Oake, you may ſay, this great tree was once but a ſmall acorne. Thoſe Chriſtians who are now but ſmall ſpriggs, may hereafter be tall Cedars: ſay to thy ſoul, though I am but weak, yet I ſhall be ſtrong: grace where it is true will be growing, the ſmoking flax may be a burning and ſhining lampe in Gods Candleſtick: and therefore as you muſt not be content with the greateſt meaſure of grace; ſo neither be diſcouraged with the leaſt meaſure of Grace. A grain of muſtard ſeed,Mat. 17. 20 may grow a great tree.
Content not your ſelves with ſmall meaſures of grace;2 Vſe. a little of the world will not content you.—In the womb a foot contents us, three foot in the Cradle, and ſeven foot in the grave: but betwixt the Cradle and the grave, a whole world will not content us, and ſhall a little grace content us? For wealth and deſire of it, thou art as the Horſe-leech which cries, give, and as the grave that never ſaith it is enough; and for grace wilt thou be content with a little?