The Works of William Bridge Volume 2, Volume 2 · Part 1 · Sermon 4
SERMON IV.
JOHN, 1.16.Preached at Margrets new fiſh-ſtreet. Decem. 8 1645.
And of His Fulneſs have all we received, even Grace for Grace.
I Have made entrance upon theſe Words in ſome Neighbouring Congregations; in the hearing of divers of you: and my deſire is to finiſh them here.
Having ſpoken of the former part of the verſe: And of His Fulneſs have al we received.
I come now unto the latter Clauſe; Even Grace for Grace.
The great Queſtion is upon theſe words; What ſhould be the meaning of them?
There are no leſſe then Seven, or Eight Interpretations that are given by men. I ſhal preſently tel you what I apprehend to be the meaning of them:
Three things, I conceive, may be ſpecially held forth in theſe words:
They may note, An Abundance of Grace, that the Saints in the New Teſtament, have from Jeſus Chriſt.
The Ʋniverſality of Grace.
And an Anſwerableneſs of Grace in every Chriſtian, unto the Graces of Jeſus Chriſt.
I begin with the former at this time. They ſeem to note an Abundance of Grace: Of His Fulneſs, all we have received, even Grace for Grace: that is, Abundance of Grace.
This Interpretation, (that I might cleer up the meaning before I come to that which I intend to preſs) it ſutes with the like phraſe of Scripture,Job, 2.4. Skin for skin, and all that a man hath, will he give for his life: (you know the place.) That is, a man will give all his Skins, all his Cattell and Skins: (for their Eſtates in thoſe times did lie in Cattell much) he wil give al his Skins though they be never ſo many; he will give them all for to ſave his life: Skin for Skin; though he have never ſo many: Skin for Skin, Abundance of Skins: Grace for Grace, and Abundance of Grace: Gratia gratiis accumelata.
This alſo ſutes with the word, And, or Even: 'tis not barely ſaid thus: And of His Fulnes have al we received Grace for Grace: but, of His Fulnes have al we received, Even Grace for Grace. That is, in great Abundance; we have not only received Grace, but we have received much Grace, Even Grace for Grace. This alſo ſutes, with the Title, the Attribute that is here given to Chriſt; and that is; Fulneſs: When God, or Chriſt is mentioned in Scripture they are mentioned ſtill under ſuch a Title, as ſutes with the matter that is in hand: and you may know what the matter in hand is, by the Title. Now the Title here that is given to Chriſt, the Attribute that is given to Chriſt, is Fulneſs: Anſwerable unto that is, Fulneſs of Grace in us, or Abundance of Grace from Him. This alſo ſutes with the Scope of the place: for here the Evangeliſt ſets Chriſt above Moſes; ſhows how Chriſt does go beyond Moſes: the following verſe coming in as a reaſon of this: For the Law was given by Moſes,John, 1.17, 18. but Grace and Truth came by Jeſus Chriſt. No man hath ſeen God at any time; the only begotten Son which is in the boſom of the Father, He hath declared Him. You have much by Moſes, but you have more by Chriſt; you have Abundance of Grace by Chriſt.
This alſo is agreeable to other Scriptures, where the ſame matter is ſpoken of: If you look into the 5. of the Romans, you ſhall find, that the Apoſtle, ſpeaking of the free gift of Grace, (at the 15. verſe) ſaies, That it hath Abounded unto many: Much more the Grace of God, and the gift by Grace, which is by one man Jeſus Chriſt, hath abounded unto many. Would you have the word Received, joyn'd with Abundance? Look into the 17. verſe, and there you reade For if by one mans offence, death reigned by one; much more they which Receive Abundance of Grace, and of the gift of righteouſneſs ſhall reign in life by one Jeſus Chriſt. All theſe things being thus laid together, they argue unto me; The main, and ſpecial thing that is here intended, is, an Abundance of Grace: of whoſe Fulneſs we have all received, Even Grace for Grace: All the Saints and People of God under the new Teſtament, do receive Abundance of Grace from Jeſus Chriſt.
Abundance of Grace Diſcovered.
Abundance of Grace Exhibited, and Communicated to all the Saints: he that hath the leaſt meaſure of Goſpel Grace, hath Abundance of Grace from Jeſus Chriſt.
Abundance of Grace is now Diſcovered. That I may make that appear: Firſt.
It will appear, if you conſider the ſeveral Advances, that Grace hath made, from the beginning of the world to this day, upon the children of men. In the begining God made man perfect, and righteous, after His own Image: Man falling from that Eſtate, expoſ'd himſelf, and all his poſterity to the wrath of God for ever: Then Grace ſteps in, and makes it's firſt Advance into the world;Gen. 3.15. The Seed of the woman ſhall break the ſerpents head. Here Chriſt is preach't, and preached to the greateſt ſinners; Adam and Eve, that had damn'd all the world: And Jeſus Chriſt is preach't immediately by God Himſelf. One would think now, that the Lord ſhould rather have ſaid to Adam: Adam, I made thee Perfect, and Righteous; thou might'ſt have kept thee ſo: thou would'ſt not truſt to Me, Adam; thou would'ſt truſt unto the Devil; Go now, now thou art fallen, go mend thy ſelf; if thou canſt find out a better Maſter, Adam. Or if the Lord would have ſhown mercy to Adam; one would think, that He ſhould have ſtaied for Adams Repentance; that Adam ſhould firſt a cried Him mercy: No, but before ever this poor prodigal ſtirs one ſtep unto his Father, his Father runs out to meet him, to overtake him: The Lord Chriſt is preacht, the Promiſe is propounded, the free Grace of God is revealed: Here was the firſt Advance that ever Grace made into the world.
But God who is rich in Grace, was not ſatisfied with this; but as in the fourth day, He does gather up all the light that was ſcattered abroad in the world before, into one body, The Sun: So now He does gather up all the beams of His Grace into one body, The Covenant which He does make with Abraham: Gen. 12.3. Gal. 3.16. John, 56.And unto Abraham He ſaies, In thy Seed ſhall all the Nations of the world be bleſſed. In thy Seed (ſaies the Apoſtle) He does not ſay Seeds; but Seed: meaning Chriſt. Abraham ſaw ſo much of Chriſt, that our Lord ſaies, He ſaw His day, and rejoyced in it. Here the Sun was gotten higher: For now, though Chriſt was preach't to Adam; the Promiſe was propounded: yet notwithſtanding, it was but barely propounded to Adam, it was not applied; And propounded in obſcure terms to Adam too: and rather given Threatning-wiſe againſt Satan; then Promiſe-wiſe concerning them. But now, the Lord does profeſſedly come and apply the Promiſe unto Abraham; And in thy Seed: which He does not give unto Abraham, as Abraham, as that Perſon; but as a Common Perſon for all Beleevers. Here was now a Second Advance that Grace made into the world.
But the Lord was not yet ſatisfied with this; but cauſes His Grace to Advance higher, in Moſes time: And unto Moſes He ſpeaks expreſly;Deut. 18.15. A Prophet will I raiſe up like unto thee; & I'l put My Name in him: He ſhall be called, God, & Jehovah as I am. Then the Lord proclaimed before Moſes, himſelf to be, the Lord, gracious, merciful, forgiving iniquity, tranſgreſſion, and ſin, reſerving mercy for thouſands. Then the Lord gave the Law: and leaſt they ſhould think, that God intended it as a Covenant of works; He did at the ſame time give the Ceremonial Law; that thereby they might reade the ſatisfaction of Jeſus Chriſt for any ſin they ſhould commit againſt the Moral Law. Here was a higher Advance.
But becauſe this was ſtill under-vail'd; And it is a pain to love to conceal it ſelf: the Lord does make a further revelation of His Grace, of Chriſt, by His ſervant David: for after David, and Solomons time, we reade of the Eternal generation of Chriſt; Proverbs the 8. Of the Incarnation of Chriſt: Loe, I come, Pſal. 40.7.in the volume of thy Book (ſaies the Pſalmiſt.) Of the Death, and Suffering of Chriſt; Pſalm the 22.1. (and divers other Pſalms) My God, My God, why haſt thou forſaken me. Of the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt: in the 118. Pſalm; and the 16. Pſalm. Thou wilt not ſuffer thine holy One to ſee corruption. Of all the Three Offices of Jeſus Chriſt: His Kingly Office, The ſecond Pſalm, Yet will I ſet my King upon my holy Hill. His Prophetical Office, He ſhall declare the Decree, Pſal. 2.7. And His Prieſtly Office; Thou art a Prieſt for ever after the Order of Melchiſedech, Pſal. 110. Of the Aſcention of Jeſus Chriſt; Pſal. 68. He hath aſcended on high, and received gifts for men. Of the Sitting at the right hand of God the Father, the 110. Pſal. The Lord ſaid unto my Lord, ſit thou on my right hand. Thus you ſee in Davids time the Goſpel had Advance further, had gotten a great deal of ground.
But the Lord was not yet contented, but cauſes more of His Grace to break forth in the times of the Prophets; more concerning Chriſt: He tells them of the very Time Chriſt ſhould be born, Daniel the 9. Of the Place where He ſhould be born, At Bethlehem. The Perſon that ſhould bear Him:Mic. 5.2 Iſa. 7.14 Mal. 3.1 A Virgin ſhal conceive. Gives them divers Characters whereby they ſhould know Him when He came: And I will ſend my Meſſenger before Him, The voice of one crying in the wilderneſs: He will ride upon an Aſſes colt; Behold thy King, Iſa. 40.3 Zac. 9.9. & 11.12 Iſa. 53.5comes riding upon an Aſſes colt: He ſhall be ſold for Thirty pieces of ſilver (ſaies the Prophet Zachary) He ſhall die, not for His own ſins but ours; The chaſtiſement of our peace ſhall be upon Him. And, as if all this were not enough; The Lord ſpeaks out the Covenant of Grace expreſly in Jer. 31.31. The daies come, ſaie the Lord, that I will make a New Covenant with the houſe of Iſrael, and with the houſe of Judah, verſe the 33. This ſhall be the Covenant that I will make with them, after thoſe daies ſaith the Lord; I will put my Law into their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they ſhall be my people: And they ſhall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother; ſaying, Know the Lord: They ſhall all know me, from the leaſt of them, unto the greateſt of them, ſaith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their ſin no more. What a mighty Advance had Grace made now! Is there any more yet? Yes! our Savior Himſelf comes, and then Grace Advances higher, by much higher; then Grace enlarges her Quarters, extending it ſelf unto all the world, go teach all Nations: Go teach all Nations (ſaies our Savior.) That houſe of Iſrael would ſerve ſuch a candle as Moſes was:Mat. 28.19. But when the Sun ariſes, no leſs then the whol world for him to diſplay his beams upon. He had ſet up a ſchool of Grace in that corner of the world, in Jenny: But when the Lord Jeſus Himſelf comes, a Free-School is ſet up, the School of Free Grace for all the children of men to come unto: Go teach all Nations.
Yea, in the ſecond place. Although our Savior Chriſt did go unto our fore fathers, the Jews; and preach unto them by His Spirit: He came to them as Joſeph to his brethren at the firſt, in a hidden way under a vail: But now the vail of the Temple is rent aſunder, and the moſt common people may ſee into the Holy of Holieſt; Now we all with open face, behold as in a glaſs the Glory of the Lord. The Jews,2 Cor. 3.18. they had the Shadows: and we have, (as it were) the Picture: but the Subſtance, the Thing; it is yet to come. Theſe Three ye find in that firſt verſe of the 10. Chapter to the Hebrews. For the Law having a ſhadow of good things to come, and not the very Image of the thing. Here's the Shadow; and here's the Image; and here's the Thing it ſelf: The Thing it ſelf, it is yet to come: They indeed had the Shadow, but we have the Image: and look how much an Image, or the picture of a man goes beyond a ſhadow; So much does the diſcovery of Chriſt now, go beyond the diſcoveries of Him then. Luther ſaies, The whol world is but one day, (as it were.) And as the evening, and the morning made the day; ſo (ſaies he) our fore fathers the Jews, they had the evening, but we have the morning.
Again. Though there were many Doctrines of Grace, and mercy communicated to our fore fathers the Jews: Yet notwithſtanding they were ſo tempered with the Law, that the very Goſpel ſeem'd to be Law to them: As now, we have the Law among us, but 'tis ſo temper'd with the Goſpel; that the Law it ſelf is Goſpel-wiſe to us. They had Chriſt in the hand of Moſes, and we have Moſes in the hand of Chriſt. A mighty difference! As we have a Baptized, and a Chriſtian Moſes; ſo they had a Circumcized, and a Moſaical Chriſt. They had Grace in the hand of the Law. And therefore you ſhall obſerve, that when the Lord appear'd unto them in way of greateſt mercy, He appear'd ſtill with tokens of Majeſty, and Greatneſs: But now we have Grace in the hand of Grace; we have Grace with the tokens of Grace, and with the tokens of Love. And this difference the Apoſtle makes out cleerly, in the 12. of the Hebrews, from the 18. unto the 25.
Again, Though they had many Doctrins of Grace, and of free Grace; yet themſelves were not made free thereby but they were as the children of the bond-woman; they were not free from Ceremonial Rites. They had the free uſe of the creature: their hearts were not free, and enlarged towards God. Indeed, thoſe that were Godly among them, they were Children:Gal. 4.1, 4, 5, 6. But (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks) they being under age, they differed not from ſervants ordinarily: But when the fulneſs of time was come, God ſent forth his Son, that we might receive the adoption of Sons: And the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. They had the ſpirit of Bondage unto fear; and we have the Spirit of Adoption unto Love, to cry, Abba, Father. They could not go to God, but with many fears: but there is none of all the Saints now, but go with a Spirit of Love, go to God as a Father: Every Saint now, may go to God and ſay, Father, Father, I labor under ſuch a temptation; Oh! Father, help me: I want ſuch a bleſſing, or mercy, Oh! Father give it me.
Again further, Although they had many ſprinklings of the Doctrins of Grace; yet they fell but droppingly upon them; now a drop, and then a drop: As you have it in the 1. Chap. of the Hebrews: 1. verſe, God who at ſundry times, and in divers manners, ſpake in times paſt unto the fathers by the Prophets; hath in theſe laſt dayes ſpoken unto us by His Son. God who by piece-meals, drop by drop; now a drop and then a drop, ſpake unto our fore-fathers by the Prophets; hath in theſe laſt times ſpoke unto us by His Son. This being the oppoſition, ſhews, that God ſpake perfectly, and ſpake al by His Son. When this King came, then all the Cocks run with wine. Some obſerve, that Jeſus Chriſt preached the Goſpel more plainly unto one poor, ignorant, ſinful, wicked woman, that ye reade of in the 4. of John; then He did unto al our fore-fathers under the Old Teſtament: for unto which of all our fore-fathers did He ſay, I am the Meſſiah, Ask of Me the water of life, and I will give it thee? You know the great Doctrins of the Goſpel, Juſtification by Grace: Free remiſſion of ſins; and the like: Now though theſe Doctrins be in the Old Teſtament, yet take your Book, and howmany leaves ſhal you reade over, before you be able to reade this Doctrine cleerly? But open your Book where you wil, open in the New Teſtament, and you ſhall meet with one everie where; with this Doctrine, this great Doctrine of Free-Grace every where. Oh! much, much of Jeſus Chriſt, and of His Grace that is now Diſcovered; ſurely Abundance of Grace, Abundance of Grace Diſcovered to the Saints now, and to all the Saints.
But in the Second place. As there is Abundance of Grace Diſcovered: So there is Abundance of Grace Exhibited, and Communicated to all the Saints. Thoſe that have the leaſt meaſure of Grace now, have Abundance of Grace. That is the Thing that I would cleer up to you. That thoſe that have the leaſt meaſure of Goſpel-Grace, they receive Grace for Grace, they have abundance of Grace.
Is it not a great matter for an ungodly man to be Juſtified? What man ſo godly, but he was ungodly before Juſtified?
Is it not a great matter for a man to be the Son of God? to be the Child of God? All Gods Children ſhall be Portioned anſwerable to their Fathers Eſtate: David counted it a great matter to be ſon-in-law to a King, though but a wicked King, and the Kingdom but ſmall. What is it then to be Adopted to be the Son of God, the Daughter of God? To as many as receive Him, Joh 1.12He gives power to be called the Sons of God. And there is this difference between Gods Adoption, and mans: When man does Adopt one to be his ſon, he may put his Name upon him; he may give his Eſtate to him: but he cannot make the perſon to be like himſelf; he cannot communicate his nature to him. But now, when God does Adopt one to be His Child, He does not only put His Name upon the Soul, and give him a great Eſtate; but He makes him to be like Himſelf, and communicates His Nature to him. So ſaies the Apoſtle,2 Pet. 1.4 We are made partakers of the Divine Nature.
Is it not a great matter, To have the Image of Jeſus Chriſt drawn upon a filthy ſoul? To have ones heart inclin'd, naturally inclin'd (as it were) unto all the Commandements of the Goſpel? I will write My Law in your heart, Jer. 31.33.ſaies God in the Covenant of Grace. That look as the Heathen, having the law of nature written in their hearts, are naturally inclin'd unto the works of Nature. So will I write my Law of Grace in your hearts, and you ſhall be naturally inclin'd unto the works of Grace, and unto the works of the Goſpel. He that hath leaſt of Chriſt, he hath all Chriſt; all Chriſt imputed unto all the Saints. Beloved! we have not ſo much of Chriſt in our lives as Peter, and Paul, and John had: but wee have as much of Chriſts Righteouſneſs imputed to us for our Juſtification as any of all the Apoſtles had: and if our Faith be right, 'tis like precious with theirs.
Is it not a great matter, for a man to be in Heaven before he comes there?Joh 17.3 To have eternal life in this world? This is eternal life, to know thee, and whom thou haſt ſent, Jeſus Chriſt. And that day that any ſoul begins to know Jeſus Chriſt: that day is the day-break of his eternity: the Saints that are in Heaven, they count from that day; there began our eternity; This is eternal life; here it begins. All the Saints and People of God, they do know God in Jeſus Chriſt. And therefore ſurely, There is an Abundance of Grace, Grace for Grace, an Abundance of Grace Communicated, and given our unto all the Saints under the new Teſtament.
But you will ſay unto me: Object. We do not find this in experience, do not ſee ſuch an Abundance of Grace in the lives of thoſe ye count godly; thoſe that are in Chriſt indeed, we do not find that they have ſuch an Abundance of Grace?
I but, Anſ. Do you conſider, The Oppoſition of Grace: The Retinue of Grace: And the Myſiery of Grace.
Firſt, For the Oppoſition of Grace. A little Grace may be much oppoſed: and when the Oppoſition is great, though Grace be ſmall in the Bulk, it may be great in the Work: though little in the Quantity, yet it may be much in Quality. There's no true Goſpel-Grace, but it is much oppoſed. When Jeſus Chriſt came into the world, you know Herod raiſed all the County upon him: And ſo when Chriſt comes into the heart, the whol ſoul it is raiſed againſt Him, becauſe He comes as an enemy unto the ſoul. As when an enemy Lands, the Beacons are all fired, and the Country all riſes: what do you ſay? An enemy is landed, an enemy is landed, and all the Country riſes. So when Chriſt Lands upon a ſoule, at the firſt. He Lands as an enemy unto the …n, and ſoul; and all the ſoul, the Region, the Continent, it riſes up againſt Him.
Then alſo, as the Dragon …ood before the woman (which you reade of in that of the Revelations) to out off the child as ſoon as it was born: So the Devil ſtands before the ſoul, to cut off the ſouls birth.
Then alſo comes in the power of all Relations; And the power of all Engagements: And the power of all former Cuſtoms; And the power of an Evil Nature: Nay, if you will go this way to work, then farewel all Friends; and farewell all your former Pleaſures, and farewel all Preferment. Was it not a great matter for Job to be upright in the Land of Ʋz? why? Becauſe there was much oppoſition in it. Is it not a great matter, for a little poor Barque, or Veſſel to live at Sea in the time of a ſtorm? for a little ſpark of fire to live in much water? for a little light to live in a great wind? You look upon ſuch a poor gracious ſoul, and you do not conſider the wind that blows upon it, the ſtorms that beat upon it; and you ſay, 'Tis not much Grace he hath, or much good he does: Oh! but conſider, if you would conſider the great Oppoſition that the ſoul meets withal, then you will ſay, Oh! 'tis much indeed, there is Abundance of Grace there.
Secondly. Conſider the Retinue of Grace: Grace hath a great Retinue, Though it be very mean, it hath rich Retinue. If a man hath but a poor Cottage, an Acre of Land, an half-Acre of Land, a Rood: Yet if it be an Earneſt of a great Inheritance, 'tis much: Look upon the little Cottage in it ſelf, or the Rood of Land in it ſelf, 'tis not much; but conſider it as an Earneſt of a great Inheritance; ſo 'tis much. Beloved! whatſoever Grace the Saints have, they have it but as an Earneſt. Ye reade of the Teſtimony of the Spirit, of the Earneſt of the Spirit: all the Grace that the Saints have on this ſide Heaven, 'tis all but the Earneſt of what they ſhall have. And the Apoſtle, he bleſſes God for this, as ye reade in the 1. of the Coloſſians 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which bath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light: (Mark,) Here are Three things eſpecially conſiderable in theſe words: All the Children of God have an Inheritance. You have but one Heir to your Eſtate, all are not Heirs; but all Gods Children have an Inheritance. And the Inheritance called, an Inheritance of Light: It does not lie in a dark, foggy, and fenny, and mooriſh place; 'tis a comfortable Inheritance, 'tis an Inheritance of light. And the Apoſtle, He does here give thanks unto God, that had made them Meet to be the partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light. He does not here give thanks unto God, for the Inheritance; but that they were meet, to be partakers of the Inheritance; that they had an Earneſt, till the Inheritance came. (I ſay) all the Grace which a godly man hath on this ſide Heaven, it is but an Earneſt: you look upon it as it is in it ſelf, and you ſay; 'Tis not much: I but, look upon it as an Earneſt, but as an Earneſt, and then you will ſay, 'Tis much indeed, Oh! 'tis much indeed.
But then Thirdly, and ſpecially: Conſider the Myſtery of Grace: Grace is a myſtery. Ye reade in Scripture of the myſtery of iniquity, and the myſtery of godlineſs: godlineſs is not only a myſtery in the general, but all the parts of godlineſs are myſterious; there is a myſtery in every part: and if you would but a little conſider the myſtery of Grace, I dare ſay, you would lift up your hands and ſay then, Oh! what Abundance of grace is here, even in the weakeſt Saint!
For example, to Inſtance. Ye ſay, 'tis no great matter, for a man or woman to tremble at the Word: 'Tis more then many a one does; many come and fit out Sermons, & never tremble before the Word. Well, but you ſay, 'tis no great matter to tremble before the Word, to tremble at the Word. I but, for a man to tremble at the Word, and yet to count it as hony, and the hony-comb to tremble at the Word, & yet to love it, & prize it then, & look upon it as the hony and the hony-comb; this is much: Now ye ſhall have a poor ſoul, a poor Chriſtian, come and tremble before the Word, and yet look upon the Word as the hony, even as hony, and the hony-combe, for ſweetneſſe; This is much.
Again. You count it no great matter, for one to love the Ordinances, ſo to love the Ordinances above all the world, as to be willing to part with all the world, rather than to part with them: This is a great matter. But may be, you will ſay, this is no great matter. Well, but for a man or a woman to think ſo; ſo to love the Ordinances, & yet notwithſtanding, at the ſame time to think that he don't Profit, that he is barren, and gets little or no good thereby; this is much. Now thus you ſhall have it with a poor Chriſtian; love, and prize the Ordinances, and would not part with the Ordinances for all the world, and yet at the ſame time complain, and ſay: Oh! I get little good thereby. Here's a Myſtery. Put all together; you take things aſunder, and therefore you think it is not much.
Again. You think it is no great matter for a man to comfort himſelf in this, That the Lord knows his heart. I but, for a man to comfort himſelf in that, and yet ſay, There is much hypocriſy there; & the ſame day, (it may be) ſay; Oh! I am an hypocrite. Thus you ſhall have it with many a poor, poor gracious, drooping ſoul. All is naught; Oh! my heart, it is full of hypocriſy; and I am but an hypocrite: and yet now, let him be charg'd or accuſed by men of the world, for ſuch and ſuch deſignes; he comforts himſelf in this: Oh! but, bleſſed be the Lord, the Lord knows my heart. Put theſe things together.
Again, You wil ſay 'tis no great matter, for a man, To look into his own heart; ſo to look into his own heart, and ſo to be ſencible of his ſin, as to think he ſhall periſh for ever. I but, for the ſame perſon, To profeſſe he would not change his condition with another for all the world; this is much. Take many a poor drooping ſoul, and thus it is: I am afraid I ſhall go to Hell, and periſh to all eternity: But now, come & lay his condition to a Drunkard, to an Adulterer; ſaies he, I profeſſe, I would not change my condition with that man for all the world, at the ſame time. Here's a myſtery! 'tis ſtrange; but there's a myſtery in every piece of godlineſs; and if you would but conſider, it would appear that there is much Grace in thoſe that have the leaſt.
Again. You ſay 'tis no great matter, for a man To work out his ſalvation with fear, and trembling. I but, for the ſame perſon, To rely upon Jeſus Chriſt, only, for ſalvation; This is much. Now thus it is, you ſhall have a godly man work, work with fear, and trembling, as if he would earn Heaven with his fingers-ends, and yet he relies upon Jeſus Chriſt only for his ſalvation.
Further. You ſay 'tis no great matter, for a man, To walk cloſely with God: But 'tis a great matter. It may be you wil ſay 'tis not. I but, for a man to walk cloſely with God, and yet to be in the dark: to walk exactly, and yet to be in a crowd, and throng of buſineſs; who can walk exactly in the dark? and who can walk exactly in a crowd, when he is carried to and fro in a crowd? Thus now, you ſhall have a godly, gracious man, walk exactly with God, cloſely with God; and yet may be in the dark; a Child of light, and yet in the dark; and in a crowd of occaſions and buſineſſe, and yet walk exactly: this is much.
Again. You will ſay, 'tis no great matter for a man to be diligent in his particular Calling. I but, for the ſame perſon, for to take no thought, no dividing thought, what be ſhall eate, or drink, or put on; and yet be diligent in his particular Calling: this is much. Now ſo it is, you ſhall have a godly, gracious ſoul, taking no care, no dividing care, what he ſhall eate, or drink, or what he ſhall put on; and yet diligent in his particular Calling.
Again. You will ſay, It is no great matter, for a man, To grieve for ſin paſt, and to ſtrive againſt ſin for the time to come. I but, for the ſame perſon to know, that his ſin paſt is pardoned, and to know, that if he fall into a ſin for the time to come, God will work good out of it, it ſhal be for his gain, God wil over-rule it ſo; and yet ſtrive againſt it as the greateſt evil in the world: this is much. Now thus it is, A gracious ſoul knows his ſin is pardoned, yet he grieves for it: and he knows that if he ſhall fall into a ſin, the Lord will over-rule things ſo, as he ſhall be the better for it; and yet he ſtrives againſt his ſin, as the greateſt evil in the world. Here is a Maſtery! this is much.
Again. You will ſay 'tis no great matter, for a man to be quiet under his Affliction, becauſe it does come from God; for that reaſon: I but for the ſame perſon, To be the more ſencible, and to be the more afflicted, becauſe it does come from God; this is much. Beloved! you ſhal have theſe Two meet together: A godly, gracious ſoul, he is therefore quiet under Affliction, becauſe it does come from God; and he is therfore the more ſencible of his affliction, becauſe it does come from God. Here's a myſtery! put theſe together, and you will ſay, things reſe high.
I'le Inſtance but in one more, and that is a Tenth. You will ſay 'tis no great matter, For a man to be contented with his condition: to be contented with his condition when 'tis mean, and when 'tis poor. I but, for the ſame perſon, To deſire a better, and pray for a better, and to pray earneſtly for a better; and yet be contented with his condition though it be never ſo mean; this is much. Thus 'tis with the Saints, a Child of God, being in a mean condition, he deſires a better; he prayes to God for a better, and he prayes earneſtly to God for a better; and yet he is contented with his condition though it be never ſo mean: pray, and pray earneſtly, and yet contented with his condition, though it be never ſo mean, Thus, my Beloved; Oh! there is a Myſtery, there is a myſtery in every piece of godlineſs: and you look not upon things under the myſterious Notion, and you ſay; 'Tis no great matter, that is in the life of ſuch a one: Oh! but, if you would look upon things under this Notion, and conſider the myſtery of godlineſs, and every piece thereof you would lift up your hands, and ſay; Oh! ſurely, he that hath but the leaſt meaſure of Goſpel-Grace, hath Abundance of Grace: he that hath but the leaſt degree of Grace, hath Abundance of Grace; of Chriſts Fulneſs. Now under the new Teſtament we have received not Sparingly, not Scantly: but Grace for Grace, and Abundance of Grace: he that hath but the leaſt meaſure, hath received much, hath received Abundance,
Some few things by way of Application, and ſo I have done.
If it be ſo;Applic. 1 Then why ſhould any of Gods People vilifie, and degrade, and lowen the gift of God wherewithal they are enriched through Jeſus Chriſt? Would you take it as fair dealing from a child that is eſtated in great lands by his father; if he ſhould ſay, my father indeed was pleaſed to beſtow a great Eſtate upon my Brother; but he hath given little, or nothing to me? He hath beſtowed great means upon ſuch a Siſter, but he hath given little or nothing to me? This were not fair dealing. And is this fair dealing with your God, and with your father? When you ſhall ſay, I, there is ſuch a godly man, the Lord hath given him a great Eſtate of the Goſpel, but little or nothing to me: And there is ſuch a woman, ſuch a Siſter; the Lord hath done much for her ſoul; but Oh! little or nothing for me. Beloved! There is no ſin ſmall, becauſe committed againſt the great God; There's no bleſſing ſmall, becauſe received from the great God: but of all bleſſings, Goſpel-bleſſing is the greateſt bleſſing. Hath the Lord therefore, (man or woman) given thee any Goſpel-Grace, the Grace of Jeſus Chriſt? He hath given thee much: that which thou look'ſt upon as little, 'tis much in the eye of Heaven. Wherefore now, let not the Eunuch ſay; Oh! let not the Eunuch ſay; I am a dry tree any longer. Take heed how you degrade, and vilifie, and lowen the Grace of God wherewithal you are inrich't through Jeſus Chriſt.
Secondly.Appli. 2. If there be ſuch Abundance of Grace, even Grace for Grace; Abundance of Grace given unto the Saints, and People of God under the new Teſtament: Behold then, what great finners Profeſſors are! yea, the fins of Gods own people. The more light, and knowledge a man hath; if he ſin, the greater is his ſin: The more beams of Grace fall upon a mans heart, the more he is able to diſcern the motes that are there, and ſo may avoid them: and ſinning, he ſins the more. The more grace, and the more mercy a man ſins againſt, the greater is his ſin; becauſe free Grace, and mercy is the remedy. The more ſtrength a man hath to ſtand, the greater is his ſin if he fall: As it was with Adam, He had ſtrength to ſtand, and yet he fell. (I ſay) the more ſtrength a man hath to ſtand, the greater is his ſin if he fall. Now Beloved! ye have heard what Abundance of Grace is Diſcovered, Exhibited, Communicated unto all the Saints under the new Teſtament; unto all the People of God: Oh! how great are their ſins when they fall! The Lord was quick with many that ſinned in the old Teſtament: and will He not be quick with Profeſſors now? that know more, that have more Grace, more Grace Diſcovered now? Many, when they ſin, they excuſe themſelves and they ſay, True indeed, I have thus and thus ſinned; but David did ſo: I have ſinned, I have done thus and thus; but Sampſon did ſo: I have committed this, or that ſin; but Noah did ſo. I but, we have more light, we have more Grace diſcovered ordinarily among us now, than ordinarily among them in the Old Teſtament: We have more Grace Diſcovered; more Abundance of Grace Communicated now. And therefore as the Apoſtle concludes from it; we ought the more Abundantly to take heed: For if they eſcaped not without a recompence of reward that ſinned againſt the Law of Moſes; What ſhall become of thoſe that ſin againſt the Word of Chriſt, the Son of God? Profeſſors! all you that are the People of God, take heed how you ſin! take heed how you tamper with your ſins: Grace hath Abounded! you have received much: and therefore if you ſin, this is that that will make your ſins out of meaſure ſinful: Take heed what you do.
But in the Third place.Appli. 3. If there be ſuch an Abundance of Grace Communicated now, unto all the People of God under the new Teſtament: What a mighty Incouragement is here to all, good and bad; (I ſay) a mighty Incouragement to all, to all thoſe that hear me this day, good and bad.
Bad, An incouragement unto thoſe that are Bad, to thoſe that are wicked: Therefore they ſhould come in unto Jeſus Chriſt; He will not ſend your ſouls away empty; there's a Fulneſſe in Jeſus Chriſt, and thoſe that come unto Him ſhall be fil'd by Him. He does not only give Grace, but He gives Abundance of Grace: Who would not come unto Jeſus Chriſt, that he may be fil'd by Chriſt? (Mark) Is there an Abundance of Grace to be had from Chriſt? and wilt thou have none, Drunkard? Is there ſuch Abundance of Grace to be had in Chriſt? and wilt thou have none, wanton? Unclean heart, wilt thou have none? Swearer, Sab-bath-breaker, wilt thou have none? The Lord perſwade your hearts to come in unto Jeſus Chriſt. I tell you, you will have more from Him, then you expect: The Prodigal look't but for bread at his fathers houſe; and he met with a fatted Calfe, and with a Ring, and with the beſt Garment; you ſhall have more than you look't for: 'Tis a mighty Incouragement. Oh! you that never thought of returning unto Jeſus Chriſt, Come in now unto Jeſus Chriſt, that you may have Abundance of Grace from Him. I have done, only this, Here is alſo incouragement unto all that are godly, and therefore they ſhould labor to be rich in Grace. ſhall Jeſus Chriſt do much for you? and will you do little for Him? ſhall you receive Abundance from Him? and will you not do Abundance for Him? Labor, Oh! labor all you Servants of God to Abound in the Work of the Lord; That you may be fil'd with all the Fulneſs of God in Chriſt; That you may be fil'd with all the fruits of righteouſneſs; That you may be ſtrengthened with all might in the inner-man: you have received much, you have had Abundance; he that hath the leaſt Grace, hath Abundance: if thou haſt but the leaſt Goſpel-Grace, thou haſt Abundance. Brethren! Grace hath Abounded! Oh! let us Aboundin Grace, Aboundin Faith, and Abound in Patience, and Abound in Meekneſs, Sweetneſs, and Love towards one another, and towards all the Saints. You have received much; can you go to Heaven with doing little? God expects much from you. I conclude therefore, with the exhortation of the Apoſtle:Col. 2.6. As you have received the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: walk in Him; Alwaies Abounding in the work of the Lord, foraſmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
And thus much for the Firſt thing that is here intended.