Of Growth in Grace, Sermon 12
SERM. XII.
I Shall now proceed unto some other things, which will yet more fully evidence it to us, that it doth very much concern beleeving souls, to endeavour a growth in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The third thing, according to this order, which I propound, is, That by growth in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we shall be advantaged for a growth in Grace. It seems, and to me, it more than seems, to be implyed in the Conjunction of these two Requiries: Grow in Grace, grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It seems to imply thus much; as if so be the Apostle should have said, Grow in Grace, and that you may do so; see that you grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. They are never like to come to any eminency in Grace, and to make any considerable advance … Grace, that make little or no progress in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And they, that in uprightness of soul, do make it their business to incease, and grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; they are the most likely persons for to make the most considerable advantage in the Graces of the Spirit of God. There is something in it, that the Spirit of God, by the ministry of his Apostle Peter, should propound these two requiries in this Conjunction one with another. Require a growth in Grace; and in order thereunto, a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.——Now here, first of all, I shall speak a little more generally; and that, but in a touch:——And then, shall endeavour to evince this, by giving an account of this in a more particular way.
You are to know, that the first plantation of Grace in the soul, it is made in the way, and by the means of the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, communicated to the soul through the Spirit: there can be no Grace in the heart, where there is no Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is the Knowledge of Christ, and of the Gospel, and of the Gospel-mysteries concerning Christ, by the means whereof, Grace comes to be planted in the soul. The Prophet, in Psal. 19. gives us this account of the Law of the Lord; that it is a perfect Law, converting the soul.—What Law is this?——understand it of the Law of Grace and Faith: Not of the Law of Works: and there by Law, you are to understand, the Doctrine of God concerning Christ, held forth in the Gospel, in the Scriptures of Prophets and Apostles. And he saith, that it is the Law of God, this Law of Faith, this Gospel-Law, which is the blessed Instrument of converting the soul.
Before Conversion, there's no Grace; when Conversion is wrought, then Grace takes place in the heart: an unconverted person, is a graceless person, let him be what he will for his moralities, and plausible conversation: when once Conversion is wrought, then Grace comes to be in the soul: and this Conversion is not brought about, but by the Gospel, which holds forth unto us, the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let a man preach moral Duties never so clearly and plainly; moral Duties, all the Duties of the moral Law, considered as it holds forth a Covenant of Works; as it holds forth a Duty to God, Duty to Man: I say, let a man preach never so clearly and plainly man's Duty, he will never be able to convert the soul; that is not the converting Ministry, no, it is not; 'tis not the quickning Ministry. I remember how the Apostle argues to the Galatians; Received ye the Spirit (saith he) which Spirit is a Spirit of Grace, by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith? That is the Doctrine of Faith. Why? saith he, you did never receive the Spirit, which is a Spirit of Grace, by the works of the Law, and by the hearing of the Law; but you received the Spirit, by the hearing of Faith, by hearing the Doctrine of Faith, the Doctrine of the Gospel, the Doctrine concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, made known unto you; in that way the Spirit came, and the Spirit with the Grace of it. It is, therefore, the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is the blessed instrumental means whereby there comes to be the first plantation of Grace in the Soul.
I, this that brings men to believe, it's the Gospel; men will never believe to the saving of their souls, till they come to know Jesus Christ.
They will never repent with a Repentance to salvation, till they come to know Jesus Christ: All the knowledge in the World will never bring over a soul to Faith and Repentance, to the Love of God, but the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. When men come once to know the Mysterie of the Gospel, to know the Grace of God in Christ, to know the Mysteries concerning the Salvation and Redemption of the World by the Lord Jesus; this will bring them to Faith (if any thing will) this will bring them to Repentance; this is the instrumental means whereby they come to have their hearts warmed with the Love of God. The preaching of the Law, as a Covenant of Works, moral Duties, and pressing of them, without the line of the Gospel, and the Covenant of Grace; without reference to that, this will but rather provoke and stir up the corruption of a man: The Law worketh wrath against a man, works wrath in a man; it raises up wrath, it irritates those cursed corrupt Principles that are in him. O, this is a Mysterie that we should be well acquainted withal.
O, it is the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel: This is that that breaks the heart, and makes the heart to work out after God. Never shall we begin to love God, nor to love Christ, till such time as we come to know the Doctrines of the Gospel, concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I would with all my heart that every one of you were but well studied in this Mysterie, that now I am speaking to, That it is the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ held forth in the Gospel, that is the means and instrument to plant Grace, to make the first Plantation of it in the Soul. As,
2ly. Know, That as it is the means of its first Plantation, so it is the means and instrument of its Augmentation: I am speaking according to the Doctrine of the Text, concerning a growth in Grace, and in the Knowledge of Christ. This growth in Grace, is brought about by a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus; the more we know, the more we shall believe, the more we shall repent, the more we shall love, the more holy shall we be (as I shall shew you, God assisting.) I think this Point will take up a little more time than other Particulars will, but it will be time well spent.
Now yet further, to clear up this, That it is the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the increase in that, which doth promote an increase in Grace. You shall find in Scripture, and truly it is worthy your consideration (to my apprehension) that the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, it is put for all Grace. 'Tis a considerable thing, that when God will make a promise of all grace, he doth epitomise that promise thus: I will give them an heart to know me. When God comes to make a promise to his People concerning Grace, he puts it into this Form, I give them an heart to know me. O how much is there complicated in that expression, I will give them an heart to know me! He doth not say, an Head to know me. Indeed that's a Gift, but Knowledge in the heart, is a Grace: It is the beginning of Grace, and that which contributes to all the Graces; an heart to know me. To know me;—with what a kind of Knowledge? with a fidelial Knowledge, a Knowledge of Trust, and an affectionate Knowledge, a Knowledge of Love, and with a Knowledge of Desire, and a Knowledge of Submission; I will give them an heart to know me. And you shall find likewise to this purpose our Saviour speaks, Joh. 17. 3. This is life eternal. Why, This is life eternal, To know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Mark it, This is eternal life in the Causes of it; this is eternal life in the way and means of it, To know thee, and to know him whom thou hast sent: To know God in Christ; this is eternal life.
Then surely it imports Faith, and it imports Love, and it imports Holiness; for eternal Life doth not come over to a soul, but in the way of Believing, and in the way of Holiness, and in the way of Love, and in the way of all the Graces: So that I say, The Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is such a Knowledge, as under which is comprehended the Graces of the Spirit: And truly this is a consideration of weight in order to this purpose, that we may come to be more in our indearings of it, and more in our endeavourings after it.
But now I shall endeavour to make this yet more fully to appear, by an induction of Particulars; so as that you may stand convinc'd of this, that the way to grow in Grace, is to grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Consider first of all, That by growth in this Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we are most happily advantaged for a growth in Faith and Believing; it is very considerable, and I will commend it to you to be seriously weighed, That as Knowledge is put for Faith, for justifying Faith, according to that remarkableScripture that you have in Isa. 53. where the Lord speaks to this purpose by the Prophet; By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many. Now, do but weigh that passage, and observe this expression: This is spoken concerning Christ our Lord and Saviour. And saith the Prophet, By the knowledge of him shall my righteous servant justifie many.—Why doth the Knowledge of Christ justifie?—Why the Devils know him, and yet they are not justified? Carnal Professors, they have a Knowledge of him, and yet they are not justified: I, but that is such a kind of Knowledge, as that they that have it, shall be justified: And Christ, by the Knowledge of him shall justifie many——Now, what Knowledge is this?—I… must needs be understood of a fiducial Knowledg, a Knowledge of Faith; such a Knowledge as is a Knowledge of Dependance, a Knowledge of Recumbency and Relyance upon the Lord Jesus Christ. There's no other Knowledge whereby Christ can justifie souls, but by such a Knowledge as this: And so I say, The Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ it is put for Faith, and is used to be set forth unto us, The faith whereby souls are justified, and so everlastingly saved.
But now yet more fully to clear up this, That by growth in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus, there comes to be a prosperous and happy growth in Faith.
We will consider first of all, What there is belonging unto a well-grown and improved Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and then you will be able clearly (if so be that there be any spiritualness of understanding) to see how this Knowledge duly improved, doth draw out the saith of a Believer, and how it doth most happily influence his Faith, and is as the pouring out of water upon a Plant, or at the root of a Tree, which makes the Plant to thrive, and grow, and prosper, and shoot up a main. This will appear that this benefit comes over to us by our having the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ advantaged in us. Now, consider what doth properly belong to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is requisite, in order to a due improvement and growth in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,
First, That he be known as touching his Person, That he is God blessed for evermore, God with God, in full equality with the Father and the Spirit, and accounts it no robbery to claim such an equality; as Great as the Father, as Good as the Father, as Holy as the Father, as Mighty as the Father. Thus it is; He is God with God.—And 2ly. That he is not only God with God, but he is God-Man; that he might be both fit to deal with God for Man, and with Man for God. That's the first thing that I propound: I shall make the accommodation of them by and by; and having propounded the things that belong to this well improved Knowledge, then I shall come to offer it to your Consideration, how the Grace of Faith is most happily influenced by this Knowledge thus improved.
2. It belongs to well improved Knowledge, for to know, that this Christ, God-Man, is the Son of God, the only begotten of the Father, by an act of eternal Generation.
3. It's requisite to a well improved Knowledge, That souls do know and understand, that this Christ, God-Man, the eternal Son of the Father, that he is the Son of his dearest Love, and did from all eternity lodge in his blessed bosom, that his heart is infinitely set upon him. And then,
4. It belongs to this Knowledge, That souls do understand, that this Christ, God-Man, the eternal Son of the Father, the dearly beloved of his Soul, is such as he doth take infinite complacency and contentment in; he is pleased in him, and delighted in him; upon this very account, because of the willingness which he hath manifested to appear in the behalf of poor Souls. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; he in whom my soul delights.
5. It is requisite to a well improved Knowledge of Christ, That we understand, that by an eternal Decree, God hath chosen, and appointed, and designed, this Son, God-Man, this Beloved, this Person so much delighted in; That he hath chosen him according to an eternal purpose and Decree, for to be the great Mediator between God and Man. This is necessary likewise to be known, that so there may be a due improvement of the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord hath declared the decree, Thou art my Son, and I have appointed thee: He hath decreed him, and designed him to such a purpose, according to that decree, in Isa. 42. Behold (saith the Prophet) my servant whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth: He is the chosen of God from all Eternity to such a purpose.
6. This is necessary to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, That it be known and understood, that this Christ, God-Man, the Son of the Father, the Beloved of his Soul, the Person that he delights in, that he hath made choice of, is likewise most fully commissioned by the Father, for to perform the Office of a Mediator, to all those intents and purposes, and in all such wayes, wherein he may accomplish that great Design concerning the Redemption and Salvation of poor Souls. God hath commissioned him, he hath chosen him, called him, and sent him into the world, and sealed him up, according to Scripture expression, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, and he hath anointed me to preach good tydings:—Him hath God the Father sealed. As in Ioh. 6. he hath a full commission from God sealed up unto him, for such a purpose.—He is commissioned of God, being the great Prophet, to teach and instruct his People in the Mysteries of his Will: A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me. He is commissioned of God to be a Priest, and God hath sworn concerning him, according to that, in Psal. 110. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedech.—And, then he hath commissioned and sealed him up to be a King: The King of his Church, to rule in the hearts of his People, and to ruine his Enemies. This belongs to well improved Knowledge, That we come to know and understand that this Jesus Christ, God-Man, is thus commissioned.
7. It belongs to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, That, as he is thus commissioned, sent and sealed of God to all these intents and purposes; so likewise he is accomplisht by God every way, most compleatly accomplished for to bring about the Design that he is commissioned for. The great God hath impowered him, and accomplisht him, in the most full manner that possibly can be; God hath not given him the Spirit by measure, the Lord hath given him the fulness of the Spirit, he hath given him all fulness: It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell. Fulness of Wisdom, fulness of Grace, all fulness of the Spirit; he hath all fulness in him.
8. We are to Consider, That this belongs to a well improved Knowledge; that these accomplishments of Christ, and this provision that is made in him, it is ordered unto Communication; he is the great Trustee of Heaven and Earth: He ascended on high, and he r…ived gifts for men. Why, he received them as their great Trustee; God hath committed to him a trust, for the benefit and behoof of poor Souls. This belongs to a well improved Knowledge in Christ, That all the fulness that is in him, it is for Communication, that poor Souls might be the better for it.
9. It belongs to a well improved Knowledge of Christ, That there be a due understanding of this, that Christ was from the beginning most willing to comply with the Counsel of God concerning him; and that it was the joy of his heart to ingage himself in the behalf of poor sinners, to make reconciliation to God as their Peace; to satisfie the Justice of God he was most willing, and it was the delight of his Soul to be put upon this thing. This belongs to a well improved Knowledge, to understand, that Christ had no reluctancy of spirit, when this matter was propounded to him; and when the matter was in debate, Christ came in with no Negatives, made no Objections, but answered thus: O my Father, 'tis thy Will, 'tis my joy; it pleaseth thee to design me to such a purpose, O my Father, thy will be done, my heart delights in it: Thou hast prepared me a body; O, I come into the World with that body, and I delight to do thy Will; Though I fore-apprehend all the sorrow, all the smart, all the shame, all the sufferings, all the burden, all those pressures that I must undergo in the managing of this great and glorious work and service; yet I stick at nothing: O, Father, it's meat and drink to me; I go about this work and service with as much content and complacency of soul, as ever a hungry man went to eat his meat. And then,
10. It belongs to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, That we know and understand, that according to this Design of God, and sutably to his accomplishments, and sutably to his willing ingaging of himself, he hath laid out himself to the utmost; in a way of doing, in a way of suffering;—in a way of doing, fulfilling all righteousness in an active way, in the course of his life, and conversing here in the world:—In a way of suffering; by the offering up of himself a Sacrifice unto God, he hath made an Attonement, he hath satisfied infinite Justice, he hath pacified infinite Wrath, he hath paid the Debt to the utmost farthing: That now the Justice of God doth make Declaration, that it is fully satisfied in what hath been performed by the Lord Jesus Christ. This is belonging to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. That now which Christ said upon the Cross, It is finished, God from Heaven declares in the Gospel: O, I have full satisfaction, I have nothing to object against those poor Souls, that my Son hath ingaged for; I have a full payment, to the very utmost farthing.
11. It belongs to a well improved Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that we understand this: That having performed all that Justice could require, in a way of doing,—or in a way of suffering,—That he rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and that God hath given him preferment, that God hath given him the highest preferment, upon his obedience and satisfaction to his Justice, and upon the performance of this great Work and Service that he was designed unto; God hath advanced him to the highest top of Honour, he hath given him a name above every name; he hath set him at his own right Hand, above all Principalities and Powers.
12. It belongs to the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, That we know how Jesus Christ, thus advanc'd on High, and thus raised up to a top of preferment, how he doth improve that preferment: He is now in Heaven, he is at God's right Hand, he is in fullest Glory. How doth he improve this Glory and Honour that is conferred upon him?—Improve it;—He sets his heart upon this, that there may be an Improvement of all the interest that he hath in God; all that Glory, and Power, and Majesty, and Dominion that he is now invested withal; he sets his heart upon this, that he may improve this for the benefit and behoof of his People here upon Earth: He makes it his continual work and business to be negotiating with God for poor Souls, for whom he hath shed his blood, and on whose behalf he hath made satisfaction to infinite Justice; he doth continually appear in Heaven before God, to make intercession for them.
Now, do but lay all this together, and here's the well improved Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which I have endeavoured thus to knit up together in this compass, and to set out before you: And here's the great Mysterie of the Gospel lying in these things, which I have held out this morning.
Now, the next thing to do is this, To let you see how all this Knowledge of ou… Lord Jesus Christ, in every part and parcel of it, doth draw out the heart and soul of a Beleever, and doth most happily influence it; so that all this Knowledge is as a fatning water that doth nourish a Plant: Faith being planted in the soul, and this water of Gospel-Knowledge, concerning our Lord Jesus, being thus poured upon it, why as a fatning water, it makes the plant of Faith to grow and shoot up amain. There is never an experienced Christian, that knows what believing means, and is upon the exercise of Faith, and hath set his heart upon this, that he may make an Improvement of his Faith; there is never an experienced Beleever but is able to set to his Seal, Oh, in this Knowledge thus wrought out, and thus spread forth before me, in this Knowledge my Faith lives, and thrives, and prospers, and swims up and down with all delight, as the Fish in the water. You may easily apprehend now, how a Believers Faith will grow and increase, and receive strength and nourishment, and shoot up amain, upon the due consideration of these things that I have suggested.
1. As now, When a poor Beleever shall think thus with himself, Why do I hesitate? Why have I a fluctuating heart? why is not my heart setled and fixt, and come to be full of confidence in God? Why I consider thus, That that Jesus which is the object of my Faith, he is God over all, blessed for ever; would I have a more able Saviour than a God: It is not an Angel that I am commanded to place my trust in; no, it is God, blessed for ever, he that was God with God, from all Eternity, as great as God, as good as God: Why should I flag in my spirit? why should I faint? why should I have any miss-givings? Have not I a God to trust upon?
2. And then, He is God; I, He is God-man: where can I promise my self pitty, bowels, compassion, if not from a man; a man that is in union with God, and in union with God to this purpose; that he might be accomplish'd, that he might be every way most compassionate, and suitable to such an undertaking?
3. And then again, This Jesus is the Son, the Son of the Father; where can I place my trust and confidence so freely, as upon the King of Heaven's Son? He is the Son of the Father; nay, he is his dearly Beloved Son; the Father loves him, delights in him, he delights to hear his Prayer, he pleased him in all things.
4. Nay, why should not I be strong in my Faith in Christ; forasmuch as this Jesus, this Son, this beloved Son, this delightful Son, is the person that the Great God hath chosen and design'd to such a purpose? and it is the will of God, that every poor soul should fly to him, and have its recumbency upon him.
5. And then again; when I consider that this Christ is commissioned by the Father, he is sent into this World upon this account, that he might save, and make reconciliation.
6. And then, he is every way accomplish'd: if he were a deficient Christ, there were something to make my spirit to flag; but he is most fully accomplish'd; all power is given to him; he is able to save to the utmost, all that come unto God by him.
7. And then when I come to consider, and ponder, that it is meat and drink to Christ, to do the will of his Father; and he, with the greatest content of heart, performed this work, and made satisfaction to the Justice of God, so… poor sinners.
8. And then when I come to consider, that this Jesus is now in Heaven, at Gods Right-hand; God the Father hath given him Glory and Honour: O what incouragement have I to come to him?
9. And then when I consider, that all the trust that is committed to him, all the treasure that is laid up in him, is for the benefit and behoof of poor souls; why should not I then be incouraged to let out my heart upon him, and to have the strongest confidence, that I shall be the better for him? I tell you Brethren, that all this knowledge doth strongly influence the Faith of a Beleever: therefore, well may the Apostle require the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, in order to a growth in Grace; and in particular, to a growth in Faith. I would only give in that instance, in 1 Pet. 1. It's a Text that doth fully suit our present purpose: saith he, You by him believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him Glory, that your Faith and Hope might be in God:—Pray do but weigh this, you believe in God, (saith he) who raised Iesus from the dead; and when he had so done, he gave him Glory: He preferr'd him to the greatest Honour and Dignity, set him at his own Right-hand:—and wherefore this? That your Faith, (in knowing this) that he that was your great undertaker here on earth, travell'd in the greatness of his strength, that he might accomplish the work of Redemption and Salvation. This Jesus, after he had done his work, and suffered what he was to undergo here in the World; God did raise him again from the dead; and when he had raised him, he takes him to Heaven, and gives him Glory there; sets him at his own Righthand, advances him to the highest top of Honour:—And wherefore thus? That your Faith and Hope might be in God; that you might come to him with the fullest confidence, and rely upon him.—Now, all this that I have accounted to you concerning a well-improved knowledge in our Lord Jesus Christ; it doth exceeding liberally contribute to the promoting of a Beleevers Faith and Grace. And, because I can proceed no further now; if there be any souls, that are strangers to Christ, and to the Faith of the Gospel; will you but drink of these waters? O, set your hearts, that you may drink of this blessed Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and see whether these waters will not warm your hearts, and make you to sparkle out in love to Christ, in longings after Christ!—And for you, that are called out to the participation of Grace, and have the Faith of God begun in you: O, as ever you desire to grow up in the Faith of the Gospel, labour to be well improved in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: O, dwell upon the meditation of these Mysteries that I have given you this morning a hint of. If ever you desire to be well improved in your Faith; it must be, by your being well improved in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.