Grace, Title page – To the reader
GRACE: THE TRUTH and GROWTH AND DIFFERENT DEGREES thereof. The ſumme and ſubſtance of XV. SERMONS. Preached by that faithful and painful ſervant of Jeſus Chriſt, Mr. CHRISTOPHER LOVE, Late Miniſter of Lawrence Jury, LONDON. They being his laſt SERMONS. To which is added a Funerall Sermon, being the very laſt Sermon he ever preached.
The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of Muſtardſeed which a man took and ſowed in his field, which indeed is the leaſt of all ſeeds, but when it is grown, it is the greateſt amongſt herbs, and becomes a tree, &c.
Mat. 12. 31. 32.
London, Printed by E. G. for J. Rothwell, at the Sun and Fountain in Pauls Church-yard. 1652.
To the Chriſtian Reader.
OUr purpoſe in publiſhing this ſmall Treatiſe, is not to make old ſores bleed, or foment any ones diſcontent, or renew any ones griefe, concerning the much lamented death of this godly and Reverend Author; nor ſhall we mention what great loſſe the Church of God had in the death of ſo uſeful and hopeful a Miniſter: But we ſhall in a few words acquaint thee why this little piece is thus made publique.
There are many imperfect copies of Mr. Love's Sermons, which are likely to be obtruded into the world, by ſome who regard no other end in publiſhing and printing books, then their own private gain; To prevent which, we have from his own notes publiſhed theſe Sermons, and ſhall deſire the Reader to take notice, that whatever Sermons of this Author ſhall be thought fit to be publiſhed, ſhall be atteſted with ſome of our hands, who are intruſted with his Papers, and hope none will be ſo injurious to the Author and others, as to preſume to print any thing of Mr. Love's without the ſaid Atteſtation.
Thou haſt here but the marrow and ſubſtance of the laſt Sermons preached by that late faithfull Servant of God. Pulpit-repetitions and enlargments are here omitted, we having endeavoured to accommodate thee in the price in buying, and in thy pains in reading, that thou mightſt have much fruit, though there be not many leaves. Libri rerum non verborum ſoecundi.Thoſe bookes are beſt that have much worth and weight in a little bulk, and ſuch is this if we miſtake not.
The Reverend Author, though he had not attained many yeers, yet he had gotten much experience about ſoul-affairs. Theſe were his laſt Meditations, and therefore the more deſired by, and we hope will be the more acceptable to thoſe, to whoſe ſouls his Miniſtry was profitable and precious. Thou wilt finde here no new, uncouth, and unſcripturall expreſſions, but plain practicall Doctrine, old Divinity, ſound, ſolid, and conſcience-ſearching truths. The gracious Author preaching and preſſing them on the hearts of his hearers, from his own experience of them. Neither wilt thou meet with any railings or reproachings of the publick and preſent Governours, (the uſual, though the moſt unjuſt, charge againſt the Presbyterian Miniſters.) This whole diſcourſe is not about State, but Soul-affairs, which is another reaſon why it is publiſhed, to check the licentiouſneſſe of this Age, which hath ſurfetted upon abſurd and unprofitable Pamphlets. The Lord give thee to have thy ſpiritual ſenſes exerciſed, Heb. 5. 14.to diſcern both good and evil. But alas! What between State-mutations, and Church-diſſenſions, ſpiritual truths lie by neglected. It is much to be feared the Work of Grace goes on but ſlowly, few enquire into their Soul-ſtate. But to enquire into our ſpirituall eſtate is the beſt huſbandry in the world. If we are to be diligent to know the ſtate of our flocks, Pro. 27. 23then ſurely we ſhould give all diligence to know how it is with our precious and immortall ſouls. The benefit and profit of this ſoul-ſearching, will abundantly recompence our pains and care in performing it.
There are two great miſtakes to which the beſt Chriſtians are very ſubject.
1. Either to deſpiſe and diſparage the work of grace, if their meaſures be ſmall.
2. Or elſe, if their attainments be ſomewhat conſiderable, to ſit down contented with their acquired meaſures.
We beſeech you take heed of both theſe evils, which are both alike; unthankfulneſſe to God, and injuriouſneſſe to your own ſoul, the one deſpiſeth the truth, and the other neglects the Growth of Grace.
1. If thou art one of the tender Plants in Chriſts Orchard, a weak Lamb in his Flock, a Babe in his Family, yet Oh, deſpiſe not the day of ſmall things in thy ſoule; though thy gifts be few, & thy comforts fewer, yet tread not out thy ſelfe the ſmoaking flax; ſtay thy ſelfe upon his name who is a rock of Ages, and whoſe work is perfect, and his grace unchangable, who will bring forth judgement unto victory. Sleight not the leaſt meaſure of grace: though the firſt and ruder draught be but drawn on thy ſoule, yet be comforted in this, that the image of Chriſt is begun to be renewed there. But be ſure thy grace be right. Temporary faith, partial obedience, mercenary love, pretended zeale, legall ſorrow, feigned humility, may make up a lifeleſſe picture of a profeſſor, who hath the form without the power of Godlineſſe: but it is true Grace that makes a true Chriſtian. Common gifts and graces may bring a man neer heaven, but they will never bring a man into heaven. This Treatiſe therefore will teach thee to bring thy grace to the true touch-ſtone. It is one of the ſaddeſt conſiderations that can ſettle on the heart of a Chriſtian, to think how high a formall hypocrite may goe towards Heaven with his ſeeming grace, and how low a true child of God may fall by ſin towards Hell, and yet have real Grace. It is a dreadfull thing to think how many Profeſſors in our age reſt in duties performed, and parts acquired, and never examine themſelves whether they are in the faith, and have attained that true Grace which Reprobates and hypocrites can never have. When we finde in Scripture, aGen. 4. 3.Cain ſacrificing, bEx 9. 27Pharaoh confeſſing his ſin, c1 Kings 21. 27.Ahab faſting, d1 Sam. 24. 16.Saul weeping, e2 Kings 10 16.Jehu reforming, fMat. 27. 3Judas repenting and reſtoring, gAct. 8. 13Simon Magus believing, hMar. 6. 20.Herod rejoycing, and iActs 24. 25.Felix trembling at the Word, and yet not one of theſe had one dram of Grace. How carefull ſhould we then be to examine and prove our ſelves whether we are in a ſtate of true grace? Oh! it is very ſad to fall ſhort of them that fall ſhort of Heaven. As for the moſt part of Profeſſors of our times; it is much to be feared, that their ſpirituall trading lies more for the increaſe of gifts and parts, (in which their Religion conſiſts) then for Grace, Plus ſcientiae, minuf conſcientiae.which is the true reaſon why we have ſo little truth and peace amongſt us: for parts puffe up the minde, pride begets contention, and contention encreaſeth errour. Former times had leſſe gifts, but more Grace, leſſe knowledge and more conſcience.
1. If thou art one of thoſe, that upon good Scripture-grounds canſt ſay thou haſt the truth of Grace,Iſa 5. 8. labour then after growth in Grace. Oh labour, that whilſt others are joyning houſe to houſe, and laying field to field, till they be placed alone in the midſt of the earth,2 Pet. 1. 6, 7, 8. that you give all diligence to adde to your faith vertue, and to your vertue knowledge, and to your knowledge temperance, and to your temperance patience, and to patience godlineſſe, and to godlineſſe brotherly-kindneſſe, and to brotherly-kindneſſe charity, that theſe graces may be in you and abound, that you may be neither barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Jeſus.
No Chriſtian ſhould content himſelfe with any meaſures of Grace attained, for he is like to make uſe of all the grace he hath, had he a Benjamins portion. The time is comming when one dram of true grace, will be of more worth then all the world.Plus valebit conſcientia pura quàm marſupia plena. The comforts of grace, the joy and peace of believing, will be Cordials to you when you are dying, and will ſet up ſuch a light in the ſoule, which the ſhadow of death ſhall neither damp nor darken. But alas! moſt men are labouring, more after wealth then faith, more after greatneſſe in the world then true grace of whom when they die it may be ſaid, They had laid up goods for many yeers; but it cannot be ſaid, In them was found ſome good thing towards the Lord. Men doe uſually lay up riches for a deare yeere, they'l ſay, they know not what need they may have before they come to die: Be then as wiſe and provident for your precious ſouls. Your temptations and trials may be ſuch, that you may have uſe for all your faith and patience. Rev. 13. 10Eate (ſaid the Angel to Elijah,) for the journey is long. 1 Kings 19. 7.It is no ſhort way to Heaven, nor is the oppoſition ſmall thou ſhalt meet withall in thy paſſage thither. Oh then get thy ſoule well ſtored with ſpirituall proviſion of grace, and the comforts of it. It is true, thy ſafety is in the being, but thy comfort ſtands in the ſtrength and activity of thy graces. Weake Grace is ſaving, but ſtrong Grace is comfortable; truth of grace ſhal be rewarded with heaven, growth of Grace doth, as it were, antedate heaven. The leaſt true grace wil bring thee to Heaven, but the more Grace thou haſt, the fitter for, and ſurer thou wilt be of Heaven. The Lord make theſe and all the labours of his ſervants profitable to his Church. Ye therefore, beloved ſeeing you know theſe things before, 2 Pet. 3 … 7 18.beware leſt ye alſo, being led away with the errour of the wicked, fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſſe. But grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; to him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Reader we remain Ready to ſerve thee in thy Soul-affairs,
EDMUND CALAMY.
SIMEON ASHE.
JEREM. WHITAKER.
WILLIAM TAYLOR.
London, February 13. 1651-52.