Sermons Volume 4, Sermons on Hebrews · Sermon 4
SERMON IV.
HEB. VI.18.
—We might have a strong Consolation, &c.
Vse 2. TO press you to look after this strong Consolation. O! be not contented until you have the Fruit of God's Oath, that you may be able to live up to the Provision and Preparation he hath made for your Comfort in the Covenant. It is a Condescension that God will give us his Oath, and this is the Fruit of it, that we might have strong Consolation, to see our Names in God's Book, and our Heaven in Christ's Possession.
I shall press you with Arguments both of Duty and Profit.
First; For Arguments of Duty.
1. It is for God's Honour that his People should walk comfortably. Two things there are which God glories most in, the Holiness, and the Comfort of his People: in the Holiness, as he is a God of Grace; in their Comfort; as he is a God of Consolation. It is said in Scripture, There is none holy as the Lord. God would have the World know that there is none can sanctify but he alone; Moral Principles may change the Life, but he only can change the Heart. And then it is said, there is none like him in Pardon, Mich. 7.18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth Iniquity? God would have the World know that there is no Comfort so strong and sweet as that which he conveyeth. In your Lives God will be glorified in Holiness; in your Deaths God will be glorified in your Comfort; Ier. 6.16. —Where is the good Way, and walk therein, and you shall find Rest for your Souls. Is there any such Comfort to be had as my People have? as they have found in the way they have beaten? the beaten Path of Faith, Repentance and Godliness?
2. As it is for God's Glory, so for our Profit; we look upon Comfort with Jealousy, knowing we have deserved none; we are guilty Creatures, therefore are loth to entertain it even upon God's Terms. Joy is the strength of the Soul, Neh. 8.10. The Ioy of the Lord is your Strength, and that in all Duties. Satan knoweth that while the Conscience is kept raw, the Soul is unfit for Action. A Christian never acts so strongly, so regularly, as when he is filled with God's Love. Again; there are some special Duties which cannot be performed without Comfort, as rejoicing in God, Phil. 4.4. Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice. You cannot have comfortable Thoughts of God, your Meditation of God will not be sweet, until you have Apprehensions of his Grace. And you cannot long for the Presence of Christ. It is the Spirit in the Bride, that saith, Come, Rev. 22.17. God will not be sweet, nor the Day of Judgment looked upon with Hope and Longing. And so for Thankfulness for Mercies; Thanksgiving is the Vent of Comfort and Joy.
3. Tho it costs you Pains, it will make amends at length. All excellent things are encompassed with Difficulty. Comforts would not be rightly prized, nor rightly managed, if they did not cost us Pains and Diligence. The Heir that comes to his Estate without Labour, spends it riotously many times; whereas those that know the getting of an Estate, are careful in spending it: so when we come lightly by Comfort, we are apt to abuse it. It must cost Pains, for it is the Nature of Man to slight things that are easily obtained.
4. Consider, Comforts were to be suspected if they cost you nothing. Foolish Presumption is like a Night-dream, soon gone, like a Mushroom that grows up in a Night, or like Ionah's Gourd, Behold, thou hast not laboured, neither madest it to grow, saith God, Ionah 4.10. So an idle Conceit without Labour, that you receive you know not how, comes to nothing. False Comfort casts a false shadow upon the Soul for a while, to shelter it from the Wrath of God, but the Worm of Conscience will soon devour it. But a settled solid Comfort, tho it costs much Pains, yet it will stick by you, and satisfy you for all the Expence of Labour and Travel of Soul to which it puts you.
Secondly; Take notice of the Benefit that this Comfort will bring you; how it will sweeten all things; sweeten God, Christ, Providence, Ordinances, Mercies, Afflictions, nay Death it self.
1. It will make God sweet to you. Psal. 104.34. David saith, My Meditation of him shall be sweet. O how sweet is this, when we can think of God without Horror and Trembling? His Mercy will be sweeter to you, because it is yours, this is your Portion. His Justice will not be your Terror, but Support; your Comforts are bottom'd upon God's Justice as well as his Mercy. 1 Iohn 1.9. the Apostle doth not say, he is faithful and gracious, but faithful and just to forgive us our Sins, and cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness. You have a hold-fast upon God by the Merit of Christ, and so you may expect a Crown from a righteous Judg. Nay, his very Wrath will increase your Comfort, why? because this you have escaped. Look as a sense of Danger heightneth the Deliverance; so for Reflections upon God's Wrath, if it be opened to you in a Sermon, or to your own Thoughts, how may you rejoice that you are delivered from it. No Man can look upon the Sea with more Comfort than he that hath escaped a danger of Shipwrack; so will you with Comfort look upon all the Bitterness, and Dregs, and Sowrness of God's Wrath, this you have escaped; as the Israelites when they saw the Egyptians dead on the Shore, sung a Song of Praise. Nay, this will make the Magnificence of his creating Power sweet; when you walk in the Fields, and view the Structure of the Heavens, you will say, Heaven is my Father's Palace, and mine in Christ; All things are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's, 1 Cor. 3.22, 23.
2. This will make Christ sweet, when-ever he is represented in the Word, and crucified before your Eyes, and you can say as Thomas, My Lord, and my God, John 20.28. A possible Salvation is nothing so sweet as that which Assurance gives. Conjecture gives but a Taste, as those Hypocrites had but a Taste of the good Word of God, and the Powers of the World to come, Heb. 6.5. but this is nothing to an actual Interest: when you can say, My God, how doth it fill the Soul with Ravishment and Sweetness?
3. This will make all his Providences sweet, the dreadful Acts of his Justice, and terrible things of Righteousness which God discovereth to the Sons of Men. Look as a Son is much delighted in a History wherein are recorded his own Father's valiant Acts; so will you take Pleasure in meditating upon the Providences of God, they are the mighty Acts of your God and Father.
4. This will make Ordinances sweet: As Prayer, it brings the Soul sweetly into God's Presence. It is a far greater Advantage to cry, Our Father, than to cry, Lord, Lord. Observe it when you will, Duties are a Burden, either when we have a false Peace, or none. When we have a false Peace, for then we are loth to disturb our carnal Quiet; it breeds a Quarrel between vile Affections, and natural Conscience: Or when we have no Peace, Fears are revived and come upon us anew; as Guilt ariseth at the Presence of the Judg, or an offended Party. O but when we can say, God is our reconciled God! what a Comfort is this? It is sweet to draw nigh in the assurance of Faith: Heb. 10.22. Let us draw nigh in full assurance of Faith. This will make the Word sweet; the Word relishes not, unless we have some Interest in the Comforts of it. Things which do not concern us, affect us not. Tho a Man come with never so much comfortable Promises, they taste not sweet, until we have a Propriety in them. A Taste presupposeth Hope, O but how sweet will it be, when we shall come to the Word as to the reading of our own Charter, as the Indenture which is drawn between God and us, by which all Privileges are made over to us; and can apply the Promises, and say, this was God's unchangeable Purpose given me in Christ! And this makes the Supper of the Lord sweet, for then you can come as one of God's Friends, and invited Guests, Eat, O Friends, drink; yea, drink abundantly, O Beloved! Cant. 5.1. Others hope well, but you are sure of Welcome and Entertainment.
5. This makes all particular Providences of God to your selves sweet, when they are dipp'd in Love, for all things shall work together for good to you, Rom. 8.28. Though a single Dispensation may seem to go cross to your Desires and Hopes, yet there's no Curse in it; as a crooked Stick in a Faggot makes the whole more compacted: Cant. 4.16. Awake, O North Wind, and come thou South. Mark, North and South Wind, two contrary Blasts from different Corners; however it be, it doth Good to the Church. Whencesoever the Blast comes, be it a gentle Breath that comes this way, or a cold nipping Wind that comes an other way, it makes the Spices to flow out. O how sweet are Mercies, when they are wrapp'd up in the Bowels of Christ, and sent to us as a Token from Heaven; and we can see Love in all our Enjoyments? If God gives you deliverance, you may say as Hezekiah, Isa. 38.17. Thou hast in love to my Soul, delivered it from the Pit of Corruption. You are loved into Mercy. Whatsoever you enjoy, it is not as a Creature, but as an Heir. What a Comfort then will a Christian take in a morsel of Bread, when he causes God's special Love in it, more than worldly Men can take in their greatest Possessions. Look, as a mean Remembrance from a Friend, is better than a Royal Gift from an Enemy; so this makes thy Meat and Bread sweet, when sent from thy Father in Heaven, when thou hast it as an Heir of Promise.
6. This will make Afflictions sweet; their very Property is altered, they are not now vindictive Dispensations, but such as belong to the Covenant of Grace, and so they will not do us harm. In faithfulness thou hast afflicted me, Psal. 119.75. When you can make this Reflection, the Lord seeth I want this, else I should not be exercised with such Providences: At least there is a Supply of inward Comfort, and then a heavy Burden is nothing to a sound Back. If God strikes, Sin is pardoned, and the Sting of Affliction is taken away.
7. It will sweeten Death it self; thou knowest whither thou art going. Death is a sad stroak to wicked Men, which sends the Body to the Grave, and the Soul to Hell; it must needs be a King of Terrors to them. But Death to those that have this strong Consolation, is as Haman was to Mordecai; from a Mischief, it is made a Means to do us Honour. Christ hath delivered us both from the Hurt and Fear of Death, Heb. 2.14, 15. That through Death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death, that is, the Devil: And deliver them, who through fear of Death, were all their life-time subject to Bondage. So that we may entertain it with Delight, as Iacob looked upon the Chariots that were sent for him with rejoicing. This is a Messenger to carry me to Christ; and who would refuse to be happy? Phil. 1.23. I desire to depart, and to be with Christ. They know Death is but a loosing from the Body, that they may be joined to Christ; and they had rather lose a thousand Bodies than Fellowship with Christ; their Souls are sent away in peace to the place of Bliss.
8. This makes the Day of Judgment sweet. Look, as the betrothed Virgin longs for the Day of Espousals, and when the Bridegroom will come; or as a Woman longs for the return of her Husband, that is gone a long Voyage: so the Soul, that is betrothed to Christ, longs for the return of the Bridegroom, that he may carry it into his Father's House.
9. It will make the Thoughts of Heaven sweet. When a Christian walks abroad, and points up to Heaven, he may say, there is the place of my Bliss, and everlasting Abode. One would think this were enough to ravish the Heart of any Man, and make him do any thing, even run to the ends of the Earth, to gain this strong Consolation.
But we are backward and slow; therefore here is the great Question, What shall we do to get and keep this great Comfort?
I shall give you a few Directions. Many rest in Notions; when they see the Way, they are discouraged, and go no farther. But will you engage, before the Lord, to observe these things, if you find them according to Scripture?
First; Then how to get these strong Consolations.
1. Lay a good Foundation, by meditating upon the Mercy and Truth of God in the Gospel. Our first Comfort ariseth from Meditation, or the serious Act of Faith on the Mercy and Truth of God; as settled Assurance ariseth from a sight of Evidence. God usually gives us at first Conversion, a taste of his Goodness and Sweetness, which differeth from Assurance: 1 Pet. 2.2, 3. As new-born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. If so be ye have …sted that the Lord is gracious. Usually at first, when the Soul is taken up with deep Thoughts of God's Love and Mercy in Christ, God lets in some Comfort and Sweetness into the Soul; which though it be not Assurance, and a solemn Testimony of our Interest in Christ, yet it is a Refreshment which the Soul receiveth, while it admires the Riches, and the Bounty, and the Certainty of God's Grace. However this is a Taste, a Beginning, that maketh as look after a more assured sense of God's Grace. Briefly, there must be believing Thoughts of God's Mercy and Truth. I call this Meditation, because all the direct Acts of Faith are performed and carried on by the help of the Thoughts. Faith engageth us in solemn musing, and deep Thoughts fasten things upon the Spirit. As Eggs are hatched by a constant Incubation; so when the Soul museth, Comfort ariseth. The two things you should often propound, are Mercy and Truth, because they are the I…hin and Boa…, the two Pillars which support the Covenant of Grace; for it was made in Mercy, and kept in Truth. Therefore it is said, Mich. 7.20. Thou wilt perform the Truth to Jacob, and Mercy to Abraham. The Covenant was made first with Abraham, therefore it was Mercy to him; but it was made good to Iacob, therefore it was Truth to him. In the 89th Psalm, they are seven times coupled; the one is the Fountain, the other the Pipe and Conveyance; it springs from Mercy, and is conveyed and dispensed in Truth: Therefore the Psalmist saith, Psal. 25.10. All the Paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth, to them that keep his Covenant and his Testimonies. It is free, that it may be sure; and sure, that it may be free. These are the two Attributes God doth glorify in the Covenant of Grace, and in all his Dispensations of Grace.
(1.) Meditate of the Mercy and Love of God. In the Covenant of Works, God would glorify his Justice; but his great Aim in the Covenant of Grace, is to glorify his Mercy. Ephes. 1.6. To the praise of the Glory of his Grace, wherein he hath accepted us in the Beloved. God would make Grace glorious. Justice seeks a fit Object; Mercy only a fit Occasion. The Question of Justice is, To whom is it due? But the Question of Mercy is, Who wants it? who needs it? Well then, though Satan and our own Hearts may make many Objections, there is enough indeed to overwhelm us, to damn us when we look to our selves. But what will God glorify? Grace, Grace. This is the Banner he hath spread over the Church, in defiance of all the Powers of Darkness. He hath brought me to the Banqueting-house; and his Banner over me was Love, Cant. 2.4. You must refresh your Souls with a sense of God's Mercy; every day get a sprinkling of Christ's Blood upon your Heart. Now in the establishing Assurance, this is necessary; for the Spirit sealeth us a Spirit of Promise, upon terms of Mercy and Grace. Ephes. 1.13. Ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise. The Spirit stirreth up Faith in the Promise, and then giveth in the Sense and Comfort of it. And therefore if you first look for Evidence, and see what Grace is wrought in you, you pervert the Order of the Gospel; the right Method is to begin with direct Acts, and then to go on to reflex Acts; first refresh the Soul with God's free Grace and Mercy.
(2.) Then for God's Truth, look upon what sure Terms Grace is conveyed to you. In the Text you have God's Word and Oath. God would over and above satisfy you. If you will not trust him upon his Word, yet give him the Credit you would give to an ordinary Man's Oath. You have Promises of Grace written in the Scriptures; put him in remembrance, spread your Matter before the Lord, and shew him his Tokens; Lord, whose are these? Then you have Covenant and Seals, which are as Indentures between God and you. A Covenant is a solemn Transaction between Man and Man; now God hath made a Covenant, and sealed it in the Sacrament. Then you have not only outward Seals, but inward Assurances, Earnest and First-fruits; as if the Lord could never be bound fast enough to the Creature, that is so loose and uncertain. God hath given us his Word, Oath, Covenant, Seals and Earnest, which you should meditate upon, if you would increase Delight.
2. Get Assurance and Holiness, which is an Evidence of your Title and Interest. As Ahab was angry with the Prophet Micaia…, 1 Kings 22.8. I hate him, because he doth not prophesy Good concerning me, but Evil. So Sinners hate us, because we speak not Peace, and do not assure them of Comfort. But alas, in vain do we press Men to Comfort, for till there be Holiness, there can be no Peace or positive Certainty: 1 John 2.3. Hereby do we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments. This is the Evidence we must avouch in the Court of Conscience. Tho Comfort be founded upon Christ's Merit, yet it will be found only in Christ's Way. Mark the distinctness of Phrase, Mat. 11.28, 29. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy-laden; and I will give you Rest. Certainly it is Christ must give us Rest; but when will he give it? Ver. 29. Take my Yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in Heart, and ye shall find Rest for your Souls; when we abide in the Discipline of his Spirit. God first poureth in the Oil of Grace, and then the Oil of Gladness. There is an inseparable Connexion between Comfort and Grace, as between Fire and Heat; if no Fire, no Heat; and if no Grace, it is in vain to expect Comfort. The Dispensation of the Spirit of Christ cannot be severed from the Application of his Merit. Christ is first King of Righteousness, then King of Peace, Heb. 7.2. First he disposeth and puts the Soul into a holy righteous Frame, and then settleth Peace and Quiet in the Conscience. Alas, for others, God will not trust them with it, and they cannot receive it; God will not trust them with Peace and Comfort. God trieth carnal Men with the Comforts of the World, which they abuse to the neglect of God, and therefore he will not bestow upon them the Comforts of his Spirit. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous Mammon, who will commit to your Trust the true Riches? Luke 16.11. When a leaky Vessel is tried with Water, and will not hold it, you will not put any precious Liquor into it: so if you are carnal, and abuse worldly Comforts, Corn, Wine and Oil, to Riot and Excess, do you think God will trust you with the strong Consolations and Ravishments of his Spirit? Then you cannot receive it. A Man may as well think to apply a Needle to his Finger, and not be prick'd, as to commit Sin, and not find Trouble in his Conscience. Comfort cannot be felt there where Sin reigns; and besides, a carnal Heart can have no spiritual discerning. Therefore the Foundation must be laid in Grace and Holiness, that is the Evidence.
3. Labour after a sense of Grace. Grace, and a sense of Grace, differ: for the spiritual Acts of the Soul are not so liable to feeling, as the Acts of the Body. When I awake, I know I am so: but internal Sense differeth from outward. A Man may be in a State of Grace, yet not always know it: as Iohn 14.4, 5. Whither I go, ye know, and the Way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the Way? A direct Contradiction! Sciebant isti, sed se scire nesciebant, saith Austin; The Apostles knew the Way, but did not know they knew it. We need an Interpreter to shew us our Righteousness. Grace is so weak, and there is such a mixture of Sin, and Men so seldom come to an Audit, that Conscience is extreamly puzzled to know whether there be Grace or no. Our Uncertainty in this kind may be reduced to these two Heads; Want of Observance, and Want of Judgment; Inadvertency, and Injudiciousness. We do not take notice of the Acts of Grace, through non-observance; and because of the mixture of Weakness, Conscience cannot judg of the regulation of our Actions. We neglect Observation, and therefore are to seek of Consolation. You know there are two Questions go up in this Debate; Whether I have done such a thing or no? then, Whether I have done it as I ought to do it? It concerns first the Being of the Action, and then the Regularity of it, Congruousness of it with the Rule. Therefore if we would get a sense of Grace, we must be watchful to observe what is done, and judicious to see whether it carry proportion with the Rule. Now by Vse our Senses will be exercised to discern both Good and Evil, Heb. 5.14. To get a sense of Grace, the Soul must be heedful and cautious. By long and much Acquaintance with God, and the Work of Holiness, we may be able to make a Judgment upon our own Actions.
Secondly, How shall we keep the Soul in a constant Observation, that we may be more at home, and constantly take notice of the State of the Heart? Here these Rules will be of use.
1. As Doubts arise, get them satisfied. These are Hints from God, that you should study your Hearts more. Smothering of Doubts is dangerous, it breeds Atheism and Hypocrisy; therefore when they arise, never dismiss them without an Answer and clear Satisfaction: do not suspend it out of Self-love, and carnal Fear. As when we see the Smoke a coming, we keep blowing to get it into a Flame: So when the Spirit begins to set the Heart on fire, keep blowing. Doubts arise, but bring them to an Head. God offereth many a fair Occasion to Men to study their own Heart, how it is with them; if they neglect it, all runs to Confusion and Uncertainty. Well, having your Hearts at an advantage, get the Case cleared one way or other.
2. As Sins are committed, get them pardoned: 1 John 2.1. If any Man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the Righteous. Run to your Advocate, never leave until you have gotten a Copy of your Discharge, and God gives you assurance of your Pardon, by his Spirit in the Court of your Consciences. This will put you upon often recourse to Christ, which is the sure way to get Comfort: But Negligence in the Spiritual Life, and swallowing Sins without remorse, breeds Security. Look as a Fountain, when it is muddied, never leaves till it work it self clear again: so when you have fallen foul, and Conscience smites, never leave until God hath given you the Pardon of that Sin. Jer. 8.4. Shall they fall, and not arise? Take heed of lying still, or of Negligence. If you be a constant observer of Corruptions, and cease not until by Christ's Death you get a Pardon, all things will not be so dark, doubtful and litigious.
3. Revise Acts of Faith assoon as they are exerted and put forth. When Faith is renewed by the Word, in Prayer, or in Meditation, examine it. Lusts and Graces are best discovered whilst they are stirring. A Man surprized in an Act of Sin, is most sensible of it. A Thief is ashamed when he is found, Jer. 2.26. So to surprize the Soul in an Act of Grace, as when sweet Thoughts, and Hopes of God's Grace and Mercy are stirred up, say, Is not this Faith? Carnal Principles that otherwise lie hid, are best discovered in their Operation: as when a Man is praying or preaching out of Vain-glory, if his Heart return upon him, and take him tardy, his Shame is more increased.
4. Get Experiences confirmed assoon as they are exhibited. A Christian that walks in Darkness, and is uncertain of his State, had need be watchful, and wait upon God in the Word and in Prayer, and observe Providences for some Glimpses of his Love. Look as Benhadad's Servants, 1 Kings 20.33. watched for the word Brother: so should you watch what Tokens of Love and Favour will pass out, and what Experiences and Quicknings you have. In the Word, Psal. 119.93. I will never forget thy Precepts, for with them thou hast quickned me. When you find fresh Excitations of Grace come in upon the Soul, O I shall never forget such a Duty, there God met me, and quickned me; O improve it. So in the Supper; Cant. 1.3. Because of the savour of thy good Ointment, thy Name is an Ointment poured forth, therefore the Virgins love thee. When at any time you have been conversing with God, and the Lord hath stirred up holy Joy, O remember it. So for Comfort in Affliction; Rom. 5.3, 4. We glory in Tribulation also, knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience, and Patience Experience, and Experience Hope. When you have had any Experience of God in Trouble, improve it to a setled Hope: Should I not believe in him, and wait upon him for Comfort, that hath been so gracious to me? When Experiences and Feelings pass away without any observation, we lose a great deal of Comfort.
5. Give not over strong desires of Grace, until they be answered and satisfied. Many times there is something which awakens the Heart to grow earnest in Prayer. Observe what Answers God gives; Psal. 27.4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after. When holy and strong Desires are stirred up in the Heart, we must not suffer them to go away, but they must be pursued resolutely, and recommended to God until he give an Answer.
6. When at any time you are convinced of the Power of Sin, leave not until you get it mortified. There are some Sins which have most power over us, as suting with our Complexions, and course of Life, and they most of all urge the Soul with frequent Temptations. Now a Christian is to observe the weakness and decay of this Sin, as David, Psal. 18.23. I was also upright before him, and I kept my self from mine Iniquity. Whatever the Sin be, be it Pride, Sensuality, or Worldliness, any carnal Practice, or fleshly Gratification, which you are convinced of by many smitings of Conscience. A Man cannot be such a stranger to his Heart, but he must needs find what this Sin is. Now you will never have Peace till this be mortified. Spiritual Peace is disturbed, God provoked by it, and a guilty Conscience is clamorous, and full of Objections: you must narrowly observe the decay of this Sin.
7. Observe how daily Temptations are checked. There is no Day but the Devil will be casting in some Bait or other, either to please Appetite, provoke Anger, stir up Pride, or worldly desires of Greatness and Reputation, and rising in the World, or fears of Men. Now unless a Man be a constant observer of his Temptations and Conflicts, all will be out of order, and in confusion with him: a Man will be a great Stranger at home, and not observe what his Heart is. Thus much for the first Question, how to get it.
Secondly; How to keep it. As it is gotten with much Diligence, so it must be kept with much Care.
1. There must be constant Watchfulness against Sin, and avoiding it; suppose it be Passion, Wrath, Evil-speaking, envious and vain Thoughts; all these grieve and disturb the Spirit in his sealing Work; Ephes. 4.30. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the Day of Redemption. Men usually sin away their Comfort and Peace, and the grieved Spirit will refuse to give Witness. Evidences are not kept clear, but are blotted and blurr'd, that you cannot read them. Especially watch against such Sins as most waste the Conscience, and disturb all in the Soul.
2. There must likewise be a constant Increase, and an Exercise of Grace: I press both.
(1.) A constant Increase of Grace. Small things are hardly discerned. Many Stars in the Firmament are so small, that they cannot be seen: so a great many Graces in the Soul, when small, Conscience can take no notice of them. They need have good Eyes that read a very small Print. Every Grace by degrees is set forth in a fairer Letter, and a new Edition: as the Waters of the Sanctuary grew deeper and deeper, Ezek. 47.3, 4, 5. 2 Pet. 1.5,—10. Give diligence to add to, and increase every Grace: He musters up several Graces, and then infers the Exhortation, ver. 10. Wherefore the rather give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure. So that by increasing of Grace, still we increase our Assurance. Christians rest in Complaints, but do not increase and grow in Grace. It is impossible for a Man to have Fire in his Bosom, and not feel it: so it is impossible, if Men did grow and thrive every day, but they would be sensible of it.
(2.) Exercise Grace more. By a constant exercise of Grace it is drawn forth into the view of Conscience. Grace is never so apparent, as when it is in Action. As the Sap is hidden, tho the Fruits are seen; so Habits of Grace lie out of sight, but Operations discover what is in the Soul; the Fruits appear. Therefore if Christians be lazy, and without Fruit, they will be without Comfort. St. Iames saith, chap. 2.23. Faith is made perfect by Works. Understand not in a Popish sense, as if Works did contribute a Worth and Value to Faith: No; but as the strength of God's Power is discovered with more advantage by the weakness of Man: 2 Cor. 12.10. When I am weak, then am I strong. So Faith by Works is sensibly discovered with more advantage to the Soul. So that if a Man would come to the knowledg of Grace, he must be constant in the Operations of Grace.