The Throne of Grace, Sermon 9
SERMON. IX.
HEB. IV. 16.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help intime of need.
THE Gracious Call and Invitation contained in this Text, hath been often ſpoke to. An Invitation frequently deliver'd in the preaching of the Goſpel, and as frequently flighted by moſt of the hearers of the Goſpel. It is ſuch an Invitation, as if it were delivered in the laſt day, to the miſerable Company on Chriſt's left hand, we may think what complying with it would there be; if there were a Throne of Grace ſet up then for but one hour, where mercy and grace might be had in that time of need, Think ye not that there would be coming and crouding, and crying and roaring for mercy and grace? but that day will afford no ſuch Priviledge: Now you have it, and the Lord knows, and next to him, your Conſciences know, how this is entertained. What this Throne of Grace is, what coming to it is, what Boldneſs in coming is allowed, what ground there is for this Boldneſs, have been ſpoke to. The laſt thing in this verſe, what Bleſſings may be had by coming, hath been ſpoke to alſo: Of the mercy to be obtained, and of the grace to be found. Of this laſt, I have handled two things. 1. What is the grace that is to be found. 2. What the Phraſe of finding grace imports.
There are two things more that remain in the Text. 1. The Helpfulneſs of this grace. We are called to come to find grace to help. 2. The Seaſonableneſs of this help of grace. It is grace to help in time of need. So our Tranſlation carries it, and pretty well. The Original runs in fewer Words, grace unto ſeaſonable help, or Help in due ſeaſon. Of theſe two I would ſpeak at this time.
1. Of the helpfulneſs of Grace. God's grace is a moſt helpful bleſſing. 1. It is promiſed by him that gives it, as help. Iſa. 41.10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee: Be not diſmayed, for I am thy God: I will ſtrengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteouſneſs. Alas! who hath Faith enough to draw at this deep Well of Salvation? Every Word hath rich Food for Faith. Whenever God would engage the Heart of a poor Creature to a dependance on him, he doth it by promiſing to be that to them, and to do that for them, that none, beſides himſelf, can be, or do. No Man can truly act Faith on God for that he thinks a Creature can do for him. You never believe ſoundly, but when you look to, and wait on God for that, that is impoſſible utterly to the whole Creation, to give to you, or to do for you.
2. Again, we find the Saints beg God's help. Whenever they come to God in earneſt, they come to this, Lord help, for all other help is vain. There is no more common Prayer in the Old and New Testament, and to this day, than Prayer for the Lord's helping grace. All our Prayers, in their greateſt variety, center in this, help us by thy grace. The great Believer, Matth. 15.25. Came and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord help me. A ſhort Prayer, but mighty and full of Faith. A weaker Man in Faith than this Woman, Mark 9.22. Have compaſſion on us, and help us, praying for himſelf and his Son. ver. 24. He prays for himſelf alone, Lord, help my Ʋnbelief. There is no Believer on Earth, who may not daily pray this Prayer.
3. All the People of God find the helpfulneſs of his grace. All that ſeek it find it, and all that find it, find the helpfulneſs of his Grace.
I would in a few things ſhew the helpfulneſs of Grace.
1. The Grace of God helps always to purpoſe and effectually. This grace helped Paul to labour more abundantly than all the Apoſtles. 1 Cor. 15.10. I ſay not, that this is always ſenſible to the Receaver; but only that grace given is always really effectual for the end for which it is given: It is not given in vain.
2. The grace of God helps univerſally; there is no caſe wherein it is not helpful. As without Chriſt we can do nothing, John 15.5. So, through him ſtrengthening, we may do all things, or any thing, Phil. 4.13. A Chriſtian can imagine, can foreſee no Condition, no Tryal, no Difficulty, wherein the Lord's grace cannot help him. So the Text runs, that we may find grace to help in time of need. Let the time be what it will, and the need what it will, grace can help in it. It were a ſad weakneſs of Faith for any Chriſtian to ſay, I am in that condition, that the grace of God cannot help me in. His grace is Omnipotent.
3. Grace helps ſweetly. I mean that it doth not help as an External help, but as an Internal. As for a familiar Similitude. A weak and weary, or lame Perſon, may be helped by the ſtrength of another, or by being carried; but this is but external help. This weak, or lame perſon is helped far better, when his Infirmity is removed, and new ſtrength given to him, ſo that he can pleaſantly walk and run. Pſal. 138.3. In the day when I cried, thou anſweredst me, and ſtrengthenedst me with ſtrenth in, my Soul. Its true, the grace of God, wherein our ſtrength conſiſts, is without us, and in him; but it is inwardly applyed to us, when ſtrength is found and felt. Therefore is it that Believers, not only find, by the diſpenſings of of his helping grace, an effectual ſtrength for their Work and Duty, but a great deal of ſweetneſs and eaſineſs in the exerting of that gracious help. So Pſal. 119.32. I will run in the way of thy Commandments, when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart. When he draws, we run, Song 1.4. When ſuch helping Influences of grace come on Believers, holy Obedience becomes in a manner as ſweet, eaſie, and natural to them, as it is to a Man that hath bodily ſtrength, to uſe it, in ſpeaking, walking, or working. Iſa. 40.31. They that wait upon the Lord, ſhall renew (or change) their ſtrength, they ſhall mount up with wings as Eagles, they ſhall run and not be weary, and they ſhall walk and not faint. Pſal. 103.5. Thy youth is renewed like the Eagles, is one of the Notes in the Pſalmiſt's ſweet Song. No Saint is ignorant of this in his own Experience. Who knows not, that at ſome times their Work is heavy, and is a Burden too heavy for them; at other times it is as light as a Feather, and as pleaſant and eaſie to them, as for a Bird that hath Wings, to fly?
Laſtly. The grace of God helps very myſteriouſly. Sometimes its help is very ſecret; and at other times it is very plain to be diſcovered. Its help is ſometimes ſo ſecret, that the Saints cannot know or diſcern it at preſent, but they are made to know it afterwards. Pſal. 73.2. But as for me, my feet were almoſt gone; my ſteps had well nigh ſlipt, ver. 22. So fooliſh was I and ignorant: I was as a beaſt before thee. This is the account he gives of the power of the Temptation he was under, and of the bad frame it had brought upon him. ver. 23. Nevertheleſs, I am continually with thee: thou-haſt holden me by my right hand. He did not know this, till he was brought out of the darkneſs of the Temptation; but then he did diſcern, that there had been a ſecret ſupport given him, otherwiſe he had fallen utterly.
2. What Encouragement have we to come to the Throne of Grace for this helping Grace.
1. The Propoſal and Revelation made to us of this grace as helpful, is an Encouragement to come for it. Hath the Lord revealed his grace as only helpful to his people; and ſhould they not come for that help? Your Faith is not very ſtrong and active, unleſs you can catch at the grace of God, without a plain particular Promiſe. I ſay not, but there are Promiſes many and great, of this helping grace, and that Faith muſt build upon them, and doth: But I only mean, that the bare Revelation of the Treaſures of grace, that are with the Lord, ſhould, when an Intereſt in the Promiſes is dark, encourage a poor Soul to come for a ſhare of this grace of God. Pſal. 130.4. But there is forgiveneſs with thee. He ſaith not, there is forgiveneſs for me, but there is forgiveneſs with thee. So ver. 7. Let Iſrael hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. Wherefore is this forgiveneſs, this mercy, this redemption with the Lord? and why is it revealed? but that the guilty ſhould come for this forgiveneſs, the miſerable for this mercy, the many-wiſe Captives for this plenteous redemption? The Lord's fulneſs of grace, is an Argument for our Faith, as well as his Goodneſs and Faithfulneſs in making and performing Promiſes of grace.
2. But we have Promiſes alſo for our Encouragement. Promiſes imply God's fulneſs of grace, but do expreſs his Good will to diſpenſe it, and do bind and engage his Truth to fulfil them to all that take God at his Word, and truſt him on his Word. It is a pity that ever the exceeding great and precious Promiſes, 2 Pet. 1.1,4. and precious Faith ſhould be parted. Mark 10.49. And Jeſus ſtood ſtill, and commanded him to be called; and they call the blind man, ſaying unto him, be of good comfort, riſe, he calleth thee. They had no Promiſe, but they underſtood Chriſt's calling of the blind Man, was an Act of mercy, and on a deſign of ſhewing more mercy. But we have many Promiſes of grace.
3. We have all the experience of the Communication of his grace according to his Promiſes, for our encouragement in coming for grace. Every Supplicant for grace, ſhould encourage his Heart, by all the Lord's diſpenſings of his grace. How many of theſe are reyealed in the Word? and many like them daily are to be ſeen in the Church of Christ. If you have ſuch Experiences of your own, build upon them, praiſe for them, and beg more. If you have none of your own, behold the Showers of Grace that have fallen upon many as bad as your ſelves, and which have changed them into that ſame bleſſed State, that you deſire to be in.
Appl. 1. Is the grace of God thus helpful? and ſhould we come to the throne of grace for the help of grace? Then, we ſee that weak Chriſtians ſhould pray moſt: Such as can do leaſt for themſelves, have moſt need of grace to help them, and ſhould ſeek it moſt. Is any Man under a clear Conviction, by the light of the Word, and his own ſenſible Experience, that he is extreamly weak, and utterly unable for any good Word or Work? This Man, of all Men, ſhould pray moſt. Manage your ſenſe of weakneſs, as a Call to ask much of this helping grace of God.
2. Surely then, Coming to the throne of grate for grace to help, muſt be hopeful work. If at any time, Satan, or an ungodly World, ſhould tempt you, or your own Heart fail you, in fears of the unprofitableneſs of ſeeking God, have this as a ready anſwer, I am fit for nothing; his grace can help me in every thing; whither ſhould I go but to a throne by grace? what can I beg there but his grace? Say with David, Pſal. 57.2,3. I will cry unto God moſt high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He ſhall ſend from Heaven and ſave me: God ſhall ſend forth his mercy and his Trath. And will not theſe ſave any Man?
Exhort. I would give you a few directions in the practice of this Duty of coming to the throne of grace for helping grace. 1. Come to ſeek this helping grace. 2. When you ſeek it, expect it. 3. When you expect it, receave it. 4. When you receave it, guide it.
1. Come to the throne of grace to ſeek helping grace. Seeking (as is already remarked) is not expreſſed in the Text; yet it is plainly implyed both in the Duty of Coming, and in the Bleſſings of obtaining and finding. You muſt ſeek grace to help you. Grace will not help to Sin, but helps againſt it, yet, bleſſed be God, grace can and will help ſinners, otherwiſe we were in a forlorn ſtate indeed. Grace will not help to lazineſs (that were an hinderance and no help) but grace will help lazy people, and help them out of it. To engage your diligence in ſeeking helping grace, I would ſhew you what help grace gives.
1. Grace helps to ſave you. If people come to the throne of grace, if Men pray, and have not Salvation in their Eye, they come not aright, they pray not. We are ſaved by grace, Eph. 2.5. Nothing but grace can ſave a ſinner; and if it were not the grace of God, and therefore Omnipotent, it could not ſave. Is not it a great help, to be helped to Salvation? Is not that a great lift, to be delivered from the power of darkneſs, and to be tranſlated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son? Col. 1.13. Who would not prize and deſire a ſaving lift of God's grace? All that have found it, value it; and they that never found it, ſhould (but will not) beg it earneſtly. The grace of God brings Salvation, Tit. 2.11. It brings it near to Men in the Goſpel: This is all that it doth to many. But to ſome, this grace brings Salvation, and gives it, plants it in their Hearts, and waters it, and makes it grow with the increaſes of God, till it be ripe, full-grown Salvation. Would you be helped to Heaven? Imploy amd implore the grace of God; it only can do it. And muſt not they periſh, and do they not periſh juſtly, that will not accept of ſaving grace? nor beg it, when they muſt periſh without it?
2. Grace helps to grace. All the grace that is given to us, is but a drop from the great Fountain of grace, that we make our Application to. The firſt grace that is in us, is a Gift and Stream of that grace that is with him. That gracious change that is wrought on a Sinner, by which of a graceleſs, he is made a graoious Perſon, How do you think it is brought about? There is a myſtery in it, that a Maſter in Iſrael did not know. John 3.9,10. No Similitude from the old Creation, can fully declare it: yet ſome of them are uſed in the Word, and give ſome light. This Work of Grace on the Ungodly, whom this Grace falls on, is like a Sun-beam darted from the body of the Sun of Righteouſneſs, upon a Sinner dead in Sins, that doth immediately quicken him, and enliven him. It is both Light and Life. It is all originally in Chriſt, and out of his fulneſs given to all that partake of it. John 1.4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. Joh 8.12. I am the light of the world, he that followeth me ſhall not walk in darkneſs, but ſhall have the light of Life, ſaith our Lord Jeſus. Chriſt is ſuch a Sun, that all on whom his gracious Beams light, are ſaved: he quickens all he ſhines upon. Men periſh under the Goſpel indeed, but it is becauſe the Light of it ſhines only about them, and without them. 2 Cor. 4.4,6. but not into their Hearts. All the grace whereby any, and all the redeemed of the Lord are converted, beautified and ſaved, is from the higheſt Spring, grace in Chriſt. 1 Tim. 1.14. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant, with faith and love which is in Chriſt Jeſus. How came Paul by all the Faith and Love his bleſſed Soul was filled with? All came from the grace of the Lord Jeſus? And every partaker of true grace, will own the ſame Original.
3. This helping grace which we ſhould ask, not only helps to Salvation and Grace, but alſo helps grace it ſelf. The grace receaved, muſt be refreſhed and watered and made to grow, by influences from the ſame Fountain, from whence it firſt flowed, or elſe it will wither quickly. Therefore we have the grace of God in the Fountain, to betake our ſelves unto, for the helping of his grace in us: For tho' grace as in Chriſt, needs no help, yet his grace given to, and dwelling in us, needs a great deal. The Father of the Lunatick, Mark 9.22,24. came to throne of grace but ſorrily: What a marvellous change was wrought in him, and that ſuddenly? In his firſt Addreſs he acted Unbelief groſly: in the next he acts Faith, profeſſeth Faith, and prays Chriſt's help againſt his Unbelief. Many did caſt out Devils in Chriſt's Name, but none could help other folks Unbelief, nor their own. His begging help againſt his Unbelief, was the ſame Prayer with that of the Apoſtles, Luke 17.5. Lord, increaſe our faith. And it gave more Honour to Christ in his Office of a Saviour, and did ſignifie more, both of true Faith in Chriſt, and of an honeſt heart in the Man, than if he had addreſſed with the higheſt Confidence, to the Lord, to caſt the Devil out of his Son. The Youth is lying wallowing, and foaming, and torn by the evil Spirit, in the ſight of his tender Father: Yet no ſooner doth the light of Faith ſhine in his Heart, but he ſeeth a Devil of Ʋnbelief there alſo, and he firſt begs that Chriſt would caſt out that, and help his Faith; for helping of Ʋnbelief and helping of Faith is the ſame thing. He that ſeeks the helping of his Ʋnbelief, ſeeks the removing of it; and he that ſeeks the helping of hie Faith, ſeeks the increaſe and ſtrengthening of it. And both are done by the ſame Hand, by the ſame Act of Grace, and at the ſame time, whenever and where-ever they are done. And as it is with Faith, ſo is it with all the graces of the Spirit in Believers, they do need help of his grace: And it muſt be ſought at the throne of grace. Can you ſay, I repent? add, Lord help my Impenitence? I love, ſay, Lord help its coldneſs, and blow it up to a flame? Where the true grace of God is, there is ſtill ſome ſenſe of its weakneſs, and inclination after an encreaſe therein, and ſome dependance acted on the Lord, who began the good work, for performing it to the day of Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 1.6.
4. The grace of God helps our Infirmities, Rom. 8.26. If it were not written, we ſhould think it hard to uſe the expreſſion. If the Spirit of God plant grace in the Heart, is not that fair? if he water his own Plants, is not that fair? Nay, but ſaith the Apoſtle, he helps our Infirmities alſo. Might not the Holy Spirit diſdain to have any dealing with the Infirmities of his People? Yes: but he will not. If he take no care of our Infirmities, we may and muſt be loſt thereby. A Criminal pardoned by an Act of Grace, may die of a Diſeaſe, if not cured; may ſtarve of hunger and cold, if not provided with neceſſaries; may be ſlain by his Enemies, if not protected. Senſe of Infirmities, ſhould make us beg helping Grace.
5. Grace helps in all the Work and Duty we are called to. Without aſſiſting grace, the leaſt piece of Work cannot be rightly done, and by its help any Work may be done. 2 Cor. 9.8. God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that ye always having all ſufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. There is Grace, all grace, and its abounding in God toward his people: From this given to them, there is ſufficiency, and all ſufficiency, and that always, and in all things, and thence flows good work, every good work, and abounding to every good work. Like to this is his Prayer, Heb. 13.21. The God of peace make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleaſing in his ſight, through Jeſus Chriſt. We need Grace's help in every good Work; no Work is truly good, but what grace helps us to. Grace and Works agree ſweetly in this Order. Grace begins and Works follow. Grace works on the Man, and makes him a Worker: Grace paſſeth on the Perſon and his Works, and makes them accepted; and the accepted Worker gives grace all the glory both of his Works, and of his own and their Acceptance. Whence his help comes, thither his Praiſes go.
Laſtly. Grace helps in Extremities. But of this in the laſt thing in the Text.
This then is the firſt Exhortation, Come to the throne of grace, ſeeking helping grace. Enlarge and heighten the ſenſe of your Need and Weakneſs as much as you will, the Supply to be had at the Throne of grace is ſufficient. Phil. 4.19. My God ſhall ſupply all your need according to his riches in glory, by Chriſt Jeſus. And in Paul's Stile, Glory and Grace change Names frequently, Eph. 1.6,12,14. and 3.16. 2 Cor. 3.18.
Exhort. 2. You muſt not only ſeek grace to help, but when you ſeek it, you must expect it. The Text runs plainly this way. The Apoſtle implies asking, but expreſſeth finding, and coming that we may find: therefore we ſhould come with expectation of finding. The Spirit and Life of Prayer in Faith, lyeth more in Expectation, then in asking. Unwiſe Chriſtians let out the Life-Blood, and vital Spirits of Prayer, when they let their Expectations languiſh. Here is a common, but unregarded Error, in Chriſtians exerciſe. When they ſet their Face to pray, they make ſome Conſcience of ſearching out their Wants, they labour to improve that ſight to the raiſing of fervent deſires of a ſupply of them; if they yet go higher to take in a ſenſe of the fulneſs and freeneſs of that grace where their help is; yet how rarely are they careful to raiſe up Expectations of that helping grace? few can ſay as Pſal. 55.16. As for me, I will call upon God: and the Lord ſhall ſave me. ver. 17. Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud, and he ſhall hear my voice, Few can charge their Souls as he did, Pſal. 62.5. My Soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. See how the Prophet's Faith roſe, Micah 7.7. I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my Salvation: my God will hear me. Looking is a needy Act of Faith, waiting is an expecting Act, and aſſurance is the higheſt. If you look to the Lord, you may quickly know he is the God of your Salvation; if you know him as the God of your Salvation, and your God, you will ask earneſtly, wait patiently, and by the ſame Faith Prophecy a gracious anſwer. What do you take Praying in Faith to be? Jam. 1.6. It is not only to pray, believing that we call upon the true God, in the Name of Chriſt, and for things agreeable to his Will? it is not only that we believe that he is able to give what we ask, but that he will give what is good: But becauſe his grace to help, is not only good, and always good, but nothing is good without it, Chriſtians ſhould beg grace with confident Expectations. What means Christ's frequent anſwer to Men? Matth. 8.13. As thou haſt believed, ſo be it done unto thee, and Matth. 9.29. According to your Faith, be it unto you: Is it not to tell us, that he meaſures out his Bounty to Men, according to their believing Expectations from him? John 11.40. Jeſus ſaith unto Martha, Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldeſt believe, thou ſhouldeſt ſee the glory of God? Our way is, if we could ſee the glory of God, then we would believe Chriſt's way is juſt contrary; we muſt firſt believe, and then we ſhall ſee the glory of God. We ſay, if the Lord would glorifie himſelf in performing his Promiſes, and in hearing our Prayers, then we would believe ſtrongly. But this is interverting of Chriſt's Order. Martha was a Believer in Chriſt, and expreſſeth Faith ſeveral ways in this Chapter. It appears in the joynt Meſſage they ſent to Chriſt, ver. 3. Lord, behold he whom thou loveſt, is ſick. ver. 5. Now Jeſus loved Martha, and her Siſter, and Lazarus. A bleſſed Family, and few like it, all loved of Chriſt, and doubtleſs-lovers of Christ: but they built more on his love to them, than on their love to him, like humble and wiſe Believers. ver. 21, 22. Martha ſaid unto Jeſus, Lord, if thou hadſt been here, my brother had not died. Her Siſter Mary ſaid the ſame, ver. 32. It is likely that none ever died in Chriſt's Preſence, when he was on earth; he cured all that imployed him. But I know that even now, whatſoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Here was ſome Faith. When Chriſt promiſeth, ver. 23. that her brother ſhould riſe again, ſhe acts Faith as to the Doctrine of the Reſurrection ver. 24. I know that he ſhall riſe again in the Reſurrection at the laſt day. When Chriſt goes on in preaching himſelf, ver. 25.26. and asks her of her Faith, ſhe anſwered bravely, Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art the Chriſt, the Son of God, which ſhould come into to the world, ver. 27. A Confeſſion like Peter's, Matth. 16.16. What then was wanting in this good Woman? why doth our Lord put ſuch an if thou wouldeſt believe, to one that did believe ſo much and ſo well? Becauſe notwithſtanding her Faith in Chriſt's Perſon, as the Chriſt, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, notwithſtanding her Faith of his power, yet in this inſtance of raiſing Lazarus, ſhe expected nothing. When Chriſt, ver. 39. bids take away the ſtone, ſhe ſaid, Lord, by this time he ſtinketh, for he hath been dead four days. She that believed Lazarus ſhould riſe at the laſt day, could not believe that he ſhould riſe after death had held him but four days. Such is the very nature of Unbelief, or of weak Faith in true Believers; they can, or rather think they do, believe greater and harder things when not much tryed about them, better and more eaſily, than ſmaller and eaſier things that their Faith is called to a preſent exerciſe about. Let all Chriſtians in all their approaches to the throne of grace, behold this as written on the open Gates to this Throne, and hear it proclaimed by him that ſitteth on it, Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldeſt believe thou ſhouldeſt ſee the glory of God? Some Believers are apt to think, that a trembling fearing frame is fitter for them, and that raiſing of expectation of good from God, will prevent or hinder Humility, and lying low before the Lord. But they are quite miſtaken, that think Faith and Humility are inconſiſtent. They not only agree well together, but they cannot be parted. Hab. 2.4. Behold his Soul, which is lifted up, is not upright in him: But the juſt ſhall live by Faith. To bottom Expectations of grace from God, on the account of any good, real, or apprehended in us, or done by us, is not only deſtructive of Humility, but of Faith alſo. A Boaſter is an abominable Creature at the throne of grace; but a Pleader for, and Expectant of Grace for Grace's ſake is an humble Believer, and a right Courtier at this Throne.
Exhort. 3. You muſt not only ſeek grace, when you come to the throne of grace, and expect it when you ſeek it, but you muſt be careful to receave grace when it is given. Make room for it. What is ſaid by the Lord in the Prophet, Mal. 3.10. though ſpoke in another caſe, is applicable to this: I will open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a Bleſſing, that there ſhall not be room enough to receave it. Felt Want, and ſtrong Faith, make much room for the grace of God. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Pſal: 81.10. It muſt be a wide-mouth'd Soul, that takes in, and a well-filled Soul that receaves a fill of God. How mighty is that Prayer? Eph. 3.17,18,19. We have all need not only to get it by heart, but to get it into our Hearts, and to ſend it up to Heaven daily from our Hearts; Paul makes a ſpecial Preface to that Prayer, ver. 14, 15. In it he prays for the ſtrengthening of the inner man, by the ſpirit, ver. 16. That Chriſt might dwell in their Hearts by Faith, ver. 17. That being rooted in love, they might meaſure the dimenſions of Chriſt's love, and know it that paſſeth knowledge, ver. 18, 19. Can any Man go higher in Prayer? Yes, one ſtep higher; That ye might he filled with all the fulneſs of God. Now who hath room in his Soul for the anſwer of ſuch a Prayer as this is? If we had not theſe mighty Words in this way, we ſhould be tempted to think that it were rather a Prophecy of what is to be enjoyed within the Vail, than a Prayer of Faith to be put up by Travellers in the way to Heaven, and for, Bleſſings to be enjoyed in the Houſe of their Pilgrimage. But a Prayer it is, and ſome good performance is given within time, though the main meaſure of the anſwer of this (as of all the moſt ſpiritual Prayers of Saints in this liſe) is referved for the day of the Lord. It is a greater matter both of Duty and Dimculty, than moſt Chriſtians think, to have the everlaſting Doors of our Souls lifted up, and caſt open, that the King of Glory may enter with his ſuper-abounding grace. Many Believers take much pains, and make many Prayers, for that grace of God, which yet they teceave not, when it comes and craves room and admittance. Grace comes always in and with Jeſus Chriſt: Whatever therefore hinders his Welcome, excludes his Grace from entering. Grace comes in and by the Promiſe: If the Promiſe be not receaved by Faith, how can the Grace promiſed be receaved: Grace comes always as Grace, free and undeſerved. How can a proud Perſon receave it? And there is Pride often working in the Diſcouragements of Chriſtians: They find they want much of the helping grace of God, they ask it, they ſee it in the Promiſes, and in Chriſt's hand: But they think, ſhould ſuch as I, lay hold on ſuch a precious gift, as his grace? Why not? It is grace, grace offered of grace, given of grace: Do you need it? Why do you not receave it, and make room for it? Some receave not that grace that is tendered to them, becauſe it is not the particular grace they ſought and expected, or becauſe it comes not to them in that way they looke for it in. Others receave not, nor welcome the grace they beg, becauſe they think they cannot receave it: They look on Receaving as a great and difficult buſineſs, far above their ability. But, is refuſing of it, hard alſo? Alas! that is eaſie, becauſe natural to our Hearts. Is not the ſeed of Receaving, in all ſincere asking and expecting of grace from God? receaving of his grace is no more but a Heart-willingneſs that his grace may enter in, and act like it ſelf upon us: And this receaving act of Faith, doth greatly glorifie God. Some think it very ſtrange, and hardly credible, that any Believer can ask earneſtly that grace, which when tendered, he is not willing to receave. See how it was with ſome eminent-Saints, Job 9.16. If I had called, and he had anſwered me, yet would not I believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. Why ſo? for he breaketh me with a tempest, ver. 17. But may not fatherly Love and Correction be together on a Believer? Rev. 3.10. Yet the ſenſe of the ſmart of Correction, is a ſtrong Temptation to queſtion the Love of the Correcter. David or Aſaph, Pſal. 77.1,2. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me. Who would think that this Man refuſed to be comforted? Did he not pray for Confolation. Yet he ſaith, My Soul refuſed to be comforted. I remembred God and was troubled. I complained, and my Spirit was overwhelmed. There is a peeviſhneſs of Unbelief, that Chriſtians ſhould watch againſt.
Exhort. 4. You muſt take care to guide this helping grace of God, when you have receaved it. Guiding of grace is an Art and Myſtery that Chriſtians ſhould ſtudy diligently. The rule of this Art, is this, Guide the grace of God, receaved by you, for thoſe ends for which it is given by him. Now what ends hath the Lord in giving of his grace? They are only two. 1. For the Praiſe and Glory of the Giver. 2. For the Benefit of the Receavers. Guide his Grace for thoſe ends, and you guide and uſe it well. Chriſtians have little of his Grace, and complain ſorrowfully; not becauſe he gives, and they receave little, but becauſe they guide and manage this richeſt Talent poorly. Dare any Believer forbear to ſay, if I had kept all I had got, and guided well all he hath given, I had been far richer in Grace, than now I am? Miſguiding of Grace receaved is the greateſt Sin, becauſe an abuſe of the greateſt Bleſſing. Watch againſt it, if you love his Glory, and your own Weal.
I come now to the forth and laſt thing in the Verſe about this Grace of God, and that is, the Seaſonableneſs of its Help. It helps always, but eſpecially in time of need. On this I ſhall now only note ſome few things in general.
Obſ. 1. Whatever Believers preſent Caſe be, a time of need may come. And they ſhould foreſee it. Though they know not particular Circumſtances, yet they ſhould lay their account with it. The Lord gives faithful Warnings in the Word, Faith ſhould take them. We ſee the times of need that many others come in; and we ſhould take warning by their Experience. Every Chriſtian hath found times of ſpecial need formerly: the like may come again.
Obſ. 2. Christians ſhould pray before the time of need come, for that grace that may help them when it comes. The Prophet ſpeaks of bearing for the time to come. Iſa. 42.23. The Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 6.19. of laying up in ſtore a good foundation for the time to come. So here, Men muſt pray for the time to come. Is any man afflicted? let him pray, Jam. 5.13. And becauſe any Man may be afflicted, he ſhould pray before-hand.
1. Becauſe we know not but we may be ſurprized by a time of need. Our Lord's Argument, Mark 13.33. Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is. The Lord rarely gives particular warning of the time when ſpecial need is coming. It ordinarily comes by ſurprize to us. Death may, but Sickneſs, Loſſes, and Affliction uſually come on ſuddenly: And ſurprizing Tryals are ſore and ſearching ones.
2. We ſhould pray before a time of need come, for often when that time comes, we are thereby diſabled for Prayer. The diſtreſs may be ſuch, that even a Believer can do nothing. The night may come, when no man can work, John 9.4. Pray much before it come.
3. Becauſe many Prayers have their anſwers delayed till a time of need comes. Chriſtians think that every day and hour of their Life, is a time of need (and ſo it is in ſome ſenſe) but there are ſome ſpecial Seaſons of great need, of which the Lord is the only Diſpoſer; and he fits ſuch times with diſpenſings of that Grace, that his People have many a day begged before. There may be worſe reaſoning than this: It may be there are ſome Bleſſings of Grace, that I have oft ſought, and have not yet got, that are reſerved for me by the Lord, againſt a time, when I ſhall need them more than now I do.
Thus you ſee, in the Scope of the Apoſtle in theſe Words, that there is ſtrong arguing for conſtant ſeeking of God's Grace. You are either at preſent in a time of ſpecial need; or if it be not preſent, it may come. Whatever caſe a Believer is in, his Obligation is in a manner equal, to this great Duty, of coming to the Throne of Grace for Grace to help him, as his Matters do require.