A Discourse of Spiritual Blessings, Part 2

A Discourse of Spiritual Blessings · Part 2

p. 95SERMON IV.

Amos 9. Verſe 9.

For Lo I will Command and I will ſift the Houſe of Iſrael among all Nations, as Corn is ſifted in a ſieve, yet ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the Earth.

I Have made it my buſineſs of late to open the myſtery of the grace of the Bleſſed Trinity, and to diſcover the accommodation of that grace unto Chriſtians under greateſt diſcouragements and Chriſtians of the meaneſt ſiſe and rank. I am ſtill in the purſuit of the ſame deſign, and therefore have I fixt upon theſe words; which do diſcover the Soveraignty of God in the management of all the ſufferings of his own people. I pray do but obſerve; Though God doth imploy the Nations yet he keeps the Nations in his own hand. The Nations are but the ſieve in his hand. He keeps p. 96their power, and he keeps their intereſt, he keeps all the inſtruments that he uſes ſtill in his own hand: Aſſyria, the Rod of my Anger; But yet the Rod of his Anger in his own hand. So here the Nations the ſieve of his wrath. But yet the ſieve of his wrath in his own hand. He keeps it; Lo, ſays he, I will command and I will ſift the Houſe of Iſrael. Jeſus tells his diſciple Peter, that Satan would fain have been fingering at this work, he would fain have had him in his own hand, he would have had Chriſt to have left him to him; Simon, Simon, ſays he, Satan has deſired to have you, that he might ſift you. But Chriſt would not part with Peter ſo; he was more concerned in his diſciples then to betruſt them in the Devils hand. So God is more concerned for his people then to give an Abſolute, Soveraign, Uncontrouble Power to his Enemies over and about their concerns, I, ſays God, will ſift the Houſe of Iſrael among all nations.

2. And then Secondly, you have a gracious reſerve, or a reſerve of grace appropriated unto a few that the Lord is more than ordinarily concerned for. Why, ſays he, yet for all this, the leaſt grain ſhall not fall to the ground; Though God turn his people, as it were, from ſieve to ſieve, yet he will not ſuffer the leaſt grain under all theſe ſifting diſpenſations p. 97to fall to the ground. Not only the moſt promiſing, likely and flouriſhing Grace, he will not only look after the moſt weighty but the leaſt grace, and the lighteſt grain; Yet, ſaies, he, ſhall not the leaſt grain fall upon the Earth. There are diverſe obſervations that lye in the words: I ſhall take notice of them, and then fix upon thoſe which moſt ſubſerve my deſign.

Obſ. 1 That all the evils that befall the Iſrael of God, though managed by the enemies of God, yet are the Iſſues of Gods Command.

The Command not of his word, but a Providential Command, when God ſpeaks threatning Language and Terrour to his people Iſrael in other Propheſies, he tells them that he will hiſs for the fly, and he will call the Rod of his anger, the Aſſiyrian the Rod of his anger: He will call them and imploy them. So here, ſaies he, Lo I will Command, &c.

Obſ. 2 That God will have the managing of all his adverſaries malice and the ordering and bounding of all his adverſaries power. I will order the Sifting, ſaies he, For Lo, I will Commands p. 98and I will Sift the Houſe of Iſrael.

Obſ. 3 That both the Commiſſion given and the reſtriction or limitation of the Commiſſion reſerved, is matter of a Chriſtians obſervation, of Iſrael's obſervation.

It is the duty of Gods Iſrael to obſerve both the one and the other; to obſerve that God commands ſuch a Nation to afflict ſuch a people; for lo, ſays he, I will Command and lo I will ſift. Surely this if rightly managed would be of very great Uſe to Chriſtians in a ſuffering day; Nay let me tell you more, if God will make uſe of the Devil in this work, yet obſerve the reſtraint, obſerve the limitation. Who will go for us? ſays God, I, ſaies the Devil, will go. And if the Lord doth ſuffer him to try us and ſift us with temptation upon temptation; Yet do but obſerve the reſtraint, how often was the Devil forced to come for the enlarging of his Commiſſion againſt Job?

Obſ. 4 That notwithſtanding all the ſufferings of the Lords people, yet the Lord will take care to ſecure the meaneſt of his people.

p. 99It is the leaſt grain that is the proper matter of this promiſe, It is not thoſ-that are higheſt, the biggeſt, and the largeſt wheat, but even the leaſt grain though there be abundance of chaff, & abundance of mixture yet the leaſt grain ſhall not fall to the ground: One would wonder to obſerve that the Lord in his greateſt promiſes ſhould fix upon the meaneſt and moſt unlikely profeſſours. It may be you think there is no grace in your heart, no ſeed, no grain there; that you are not a grain, but are rather tares: well but the Lord doth not proceed according to the obſervation that you make of yours ſelves, but according to the obſervation that he makes of you. If God can ſpy a little grace in any heart, God will look after that heart; It is the leaſt grain that God obſerves that is the matter of this promiſe; Yet, ſays he, ſhall not the leaſt grain fall upon the Earth.

In the opening of this obſervation I ſhall only give you ſome few reaſons of it, and then make ſome improvement.

Queſt. You will ſay to me then, Why or whence is it that ſuch ſpecial care is taken of ſuch inconſiderable Chriſtians? One whom miniſters it may be make nothing p. 100of, one whom private Chriſtians diſregard; yet God ſpys a little grace in him: We it may be are ready to think it would be no great matter to loſe ſuch a little grain as this; no great matter if the Devil ſhould hurry ſuch a one into ſuch ſins; no great matter if that afflictions ſweep away and ſuch a Profeſſour, from the Ordinances and from communion & fellowſhip with God in his own appointments. But, my Friends, here is the Caſe; The Lord he obſerveth what there is within, and the Lord doth not act nor carry it either under general or particular judgments, according to our obſervation or ſenſe, but according to his own obſervation and the truth of the thing: If there be grace, though it be in the leaſt degree; if there be grace though under very great diſadvantages and under great diſcouragements, yet an all-ſearching Eye can eſpy a grain of Corn in a heap of Chaff. It may be there is a great deal of Chaff, a great deal of vanity, a great deal of earthlineſs, which do not commend thee before men, but rather diſcommend thee before God and man, but little grace in thy life, little in thy prayers, little in thy heart, little in thy underſtanding; Ay, But if God eſpy a little grace under all this Rubbiſh, a little grain, a grain of the leaſt ſize under all p. 101this Heap of Chaff and Rubbiſh. The Lord will take care of this. Yet, ſaies he, ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the ground.

But whence is all this kindneſs?

Anſ. I ſhall give you an account of this in theſe following Propoſitions.

Reaſ. 1 A little grace, though never ſo little, is diſtinguiſhing grace as well as the greateſt, though never ſo much: When the Lord did at firſt work the work of grace upon thy heart, then he made a perſonal difference between thee and others; and it is not the muchneſs of thy grace that gives the eſſential diſtinction, but it is the truth of thy grace that diſtinguiſheth thee from others. I will open this in theſe 2 Branches.

1. Firſt. The leaſt degree, or the leaſt grain, of grace is the Iſſue of Gods eternal diſtinguiſhing kindneſs. God from all eternity, before the foundations of the world were laid, did elect and chooſe thee to receive ſuch a meaſure of grace in ſuch a little proportion, as well as another in a large meaſure and in a greater proportion; ye are choſen in him, ſays the Apoſtle. 1. Eph. 4. before the Foundation of the World was laid, that ye ſhould be Holy. God did not only chooſe thoſe that were inriched with more then ordinary Grace, thoſe that are full of the p. 102Holy-Ghoſt, were not the only Perſons that were in the Eye & upon the Heart of God from all Eternity, but thoſe that have received, though but their meaſures by ſcantling. Theſe are the Perſons that God did from all Eternity deſign, by this little grace, to make a perſonal difference between them and others; Let me tell you all the moraliſts in the World, and all the great ones of the World, have not ſo much as this little grace amounts to; Thouſands and ten thouſands of hearts, will appear before the Throne, and not a grain of grace in them, & therefore, my Friends if ſo then, this muſt needs be clear, that either God muſt look after this little grace or muſt loſe the reſolve of his Eternal Love.

2. That this little hath the nature of the whole, Jeſus Chriſt compares the Kingdom of Heaven in hearts unto a grain of muſt and Seed, which is the leaſt of all grains. Why though it be ſo little, yet there is a prolifick, or a ſeminal vertue and power, in that little. The leaſt grain of Corn is wheat it hath the Nature of wheat, as well as the fulleſt, ſo the leaſt Chriſtian, he that hath the leaſt grace, hath the whole nature of Chriſtianity, as well as he that hath moſt who deſpiſeth the day of ſmall things? Though you do, yet God will not; it may be you p. 103take little notice, and ſay, it is but a little, but yet in this little is the nature of the whole: If there be true faith, though it be little, yet here is all the truth of faith in a little faith, and there is all the Truth of love, the whole nature of love, in a little love; and there is the whole nature of humility, though it be ſhut up as it were in a little compaſs; & if it be ſo then this little muſt be and is the care of God, becauſe the leaſt grain hath the nature of the whole, and ſo here is the whole nature of grace even in the leaſt grace. Therefore, ſays God, the houſe of Iſrael, this perverſe, this rebelliuos houſe, this is a frothy and chaffy houſe of Iſrael; yet I will not loſe the leaſt grain, yet not the leaſt grain ſhall fall upon the Earth.

3. That the leaſt grace is under deſignments of grace as well as the greateſt: Nay let me tell you, Sirs, There are many Chriſtians that have moſt at firſt conſidering the proportion, & there are, on the other hand, many Chriſtians who have leaſt at firſt, and yet afterwards do attain to a great deal more then thoſe that had moſt at firſt. God doth not always do as we do, or as man doth. Many times to him that hath moſt at firſt there is many times moſt given afterwards; but God doth not always do ſo but he gives p. 104ſometimes the greateſt encreaſe an encreaſe like the encreaſes of God, even unto thoſe in whom at firſt he did Create but little. One could hardly perceive the flax ſmoaking the other day, and now it is all on a flame; and take another Chriſtian, & as ſoon as ever the fire is put into the flax, the flax fell all into a ſmoak. There was a great appearance, a great heat at firſt, but take him three, or four, or five, years after, & behold a damp again; the man had great incomes at firſt, but afterwards there was as great an abatement, & he that had leaſt now hath moſt ſo that I ſay, conſidering the greatneſs of the deſignment, the unlimited deſignment, that relate to thoſe that have little, may give a reaſon why the Lord will look after the leaſt grace, why ſpecial grace will be charged with the preſervation & ſecurity of the leaſt. Satan may ſuggeſt, why what is this, a poor thing that can hardly crawl towards Chriſt in a duty; ſo weak, there is little or nothing to be ſeen of the Image of God in his heart, becauſe there is ſo little. Ay but, Chriſtians, you do not know under what deſignment this little is, what great things the Lord hath to manage by this little grace, Daniel, when the Lord ſhewed him the great revolutions that were to be in the world, he ſhewed him a p. 105Mountain, a mighty mountain; And he ſhewed him alſo a little Stone, that was cut out of the Mountain without hands, and this ſtone ſhould be bigger than the Mountain. The Mountain, if you take it to be the Roman Empire, that was as a Mountain that filled a great part of the Earth; ay but the little Stone, that is cut out of the Mountain without hands, that ſhall cover all the face of the Earth in its time. So I ſay do but you make it your buſineſs to diſcover grace, and never preſcribe any limits as to that grace; A little grace may be under a great deſign; little David did more then the mighty man Saul that was taller than all the Iſraelites, he was under a greater deſignment; I pray conſider this with me under theſe two branches.

1. The leaſt grace may be under a deſignment for greateſt ſervice for the time to come: Chriſt is Prophecied of, as a root that ſhould grow out of a dry ground, ſo Chriſt is compared, he promiſed but little, there was but a very ſlender appearance of Jeſus at the firſt, that ever he ſhould be the man in whom all the Promiſes and Prophecies ſhould center. A Carpenters Son, this is but the Son of a Carpenter, ſay they, an unlikely thing, that all the Promiſes and Prophecies of the Meſſiah ſhould center p. 106in him, and have their accompliſhment in him: Even ſo it may be with Chriſtians, little beginnings many times do work and boil up, and improve unto greateſt undertakements. If you nakedly conſider how the Lord dealt with his own Diſciples, one would wonder that they ſhould be his hearers, three years and and an half, and, when all came to all, had not ſo much Faith, as to believe that this was really he; that they ſhould not have grace enough to bear them out in one bruſh of trial, that they met with, in the apprehending of our Lord, but they muſt all forſake him, when he was upon the Croſs. That indeed was ſomething a great trial, but to forſake him as ſoon as ever he was apprehended, and for Peter to deny him as ſoon as ever he was challenged, this do's not diſcover greatneſs of grace. Truly theſe men, as I may ſay, were men of little ſtature, and the Kingdom of Heaven in them, during that time they lived with Chriſt and heard the Lord Chriſt, was but as a grain of Muſtard Seed; and yet theſe were the men that muſt do the great work of God in the World. So it may be there is but a little grace in thy Childs Heart, or in thine own Heart, but that little grace may be under a great deſignment for great ſervice, p. 107and therefore it is that the Lord will look after a little, becauſe he knows what it is that you are deſigned for, and that every one is deſigned for.

2. The leaſt grace may be under a deſignment for the greateſt injoyments; that is, God may deſign a Perſon for the greateſt enjoyments, that hath now but the leaſt grace, Many times Children, that are weakeſt, have moſt of the manifeſtations of the tender affections of the Mother. Truly ſo I may ſay the Lord doth lead thoſe many times by the hand, that he hath given but little grace to, when others are as it were turned to go of themſelves; the Lambs are carried in the Boſom of the Shepherd. Iſa. 40.11. the Lord promiſeth that he will raiſe up a Shepherd, that ſhall gather the Lambs with his arm, and carry them in his Boſom. Chriſtians, though you be but little, yet I Pray conſider, you may be under a deſignment of great enjoyments; the Lord doth many times give you, as it were, the ſweet of the Goſpel, whilſt he feeds others with courſer and harſher fare. The Lord giveth you the dainties of the Covenant, and of the Promiſes, when he doth treat with others with more courſe or more common Providences. Chriſtians, I pray conſider not only for the preſent but for p. 108the time to come, you may be under the greateſt deſignments, for the greateſt enjoyments; and therefore it is that God will not loſe the leaſt grain: what ſieve ſoever he makes uſe of, to be ſure his Eye and his Hand will be upon the leaſt grain in the ſieve, becauſe of their deſignment.

3. The Lord will take care of thoſe that have the leaſt grace, becauſe thoſe that have the leaſt grace have a full right. I pray do but obſerve, there is no gradual difference in Goſpel right; if I have a right to an Eſtate wrapt up in a ſcroul of paper, it is as much as the right that another hath to his Eſtate that is written or enlarged upon in a ſheet: truly ſo it is with Chriſtians, little grace gives a full right, and therefore the Lord will look after it; or elſe he muſt ſuffer his own right to be loſt, the right that he hath given to be void, if he doth not look after the leaſt grace. I will open this in theſe two Branches.

1. The greateſt promiſes are made to the leaſt of graces: I pray turn to that paſſage of our Lord in the firſt Sermon that ever he preached upon the Mount, in Mat. 5. Bleſſed, ſay he, are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. What can you have more than the Kingdom, not the Kingdoms of the Earth, but the Kingdom p. 109of Heaven and the Kingdom without limitation: Theirs is the throne of the Kingdom, and their is the Crown of the Kingdom, & theirs is the Bleſſedneſs & the glory of the Kingdom; and who are theſe to whom this Kingdom in all its glory is thus annexed by promiſe? It is thoſe who are poor in Spirit, that have but a little grace, and yet are ſenſible of their little. Chriſtians, there is no graduall variation in right, though there are always gradual variations in the comfort of your right; you ſhall ſcarce meet with two Chriſtians that have in all points an equal ballance of comfortable enjoyment of their Right; and yet their Right is the ſame, thy promiſe is my promiſe, and the Bleſſing that is a Chriſtians by Covenant, that hath attained to the greateſt meaſures of grace, theſe very Bleſſings, and this very Covenant, may with all its Bleſſings belong to him that hath leaſt grace. May a man that is well thriven in grace, ſay all this is mine, as God ſaid to Abraham, when he led him forth, come, ſaies he, look towards the Eaſt, and the Weſt, and the North and the South, Behold all this Land will I give thee. So I may ſay to a Chriſtian, Chriſtian, come look from the one end of the Scripture to the other, look upwards, look downwards, look on this hand, and look on the other p. 110hand from the Eaſt to the Weſt, from the North to the South, Behold all this God hath given thee. Ay but I am poor, ſaies the Chriſtian; it is no matter, thy poverty doth not deſtroy thy right? thy Poverty makes no alteration in thy right: do not ſay in thy Heart, this is for thoſe that are tall Cedars, this is for thoſe that are fruitful, but as for me, alas I am not, well if there be but a little, though never ſo little, thy right is the ſame; a little grace you ſee doth give right to the greateſt bleſſings, and the greateſt bleſſings are eſtabliſhed upon the leaſt grace; Bleſſed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. There is nothing in the Kingdom, but what is theirs that are poor in Spirit, that have but little, and are ſenſible that they have but a little: though they have but a little, yet bleſſed are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

2. The ſame grace that gives the right makes the difference, the gradual difference: Though there be a gradual difference in the receipt, yet it is the ſame grace: It may be the Lord hath given thee five Talents, it may be to another he hath given but two, and it may be he hath given to another but one Talent; well but yet I ſay it is the ſame grace that gives all thoſe Talents, and that gives a like right with p. 111thoſe various or diſproportioned gifts, it is the ſame grace, all iſſue from the ſame Fountain, and therefore it is, that the leaſt grace will be looked after: He that gave thee a right to five Talents, gave thy Brother as good and as equal a right to one, he that gave thy Neighbour a Poſſeſſion of a great meaſure of grace, and thereby, it may be, his right is more manifeſted, it was the ſame grace that gave thee the Poſſeſſion of a little grace; and yet thy right is as ſubſtantial and true, becauſe the grace, that giveth grace, differenceth in its giving, and yet gives the ſame right under theſe different gifts.

4. The leaſt grace diſcovers an intereſt in the greateſt relations, as well, as the higheſt degree of grace do's. Where there is a great deal of grace, you ſay, ſurely this is a Child of God. Ay, and there is one that hath but a grain of grace, that is as ſurely the Child of God, as he that hath more, he is as ſurely born of God, as he that hath the greateſt degree of grace, here is one that, it may be, can fill a Prayer with grace, and here is another that hath hardly grace enough to ſtock a few Petitions, or it may be he hath grace to ſtock a Confeſſion or two, and he puts forth that little grace, that he hath in his Confeſſion or Petitions, p. 112what then; I tell you, God will take care of the one as well as of the other, the leaſt grain ſhall not fall to the ground, becauſe the leaſt grain gives a diſcovery of an intereſt in the greateſt relations; thou ſayeſt ſurely this is a Man of God, why? O he hath a great deal of grace, and I ſay as ſurely, that poor man is a Man of God, why? becauſe he hath a little grace. A Member of Jeſus Chriſt is that man whoſe grace is flouriſhing, Ay, and that man is alſo a Member of Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe grace lies under the aſhes, there are no Flamings forth as yet, Ay but, my Friends, there is a ſpark under the Embers: I ſhall likewiſe open this in theſe two Branches.

1. The firſt is this, Greateſt relations do not depend upon the proportions of the graces of the relations, nay let me tell you, that thoſe relations, that do diſcover the greateſt intimacy, and bring a Man within the greateſt Bleſſedneſs, theſe do not depend or hang upon the proportion of the graces of thoſe relations. O, ſayes the Spouſe in the Concluſion of the Book of Canticles, O that thou wert as my Brother, that ſucked the Breaſts of my Mother. 8. Cant. v. 1. So I may ſay, it is many times with the Lords People, they cry out, O that Jeſus Chriſt would reveal himſelf to me, O he p. 113diſcovers himſelf to ſuch and ſuch, O that he were as my Brother! I dare not call him my Brother, Ay, but though thou dareſt not call him thy Brother, thou canſt humbly hope that thou art his Servant, though thou canſt not with that Freedom and fulneſs of aſſurance, call him thy Brother; O that he were as my Brother as one that ſucked the Breaſts of my Mother! O that I were but in full communion with him! Well it may be thou art not yet in that fulneſs of Freedom of Spirit, that thou canſt not as yet call him thy Brother, yet thou mayſt do ſo, though thou haſt but little grace: Relations do not bear proportions according to the proportion of the graces of the related, and therefore it is, that God will look after the leaſt grain of grace, becauſe the leaſt is his. It is my little grain of Corn, this is my little grace, this is my little Faith, and my little Love, and this is my little meekneſs; the leaſt degree of grace doth diſcover an intereſt in the greateſt relations, and greatneſs of relation, doth not bear proportion to greatneſs of enjoyment.

2 Secondly, That thoſe relations that a Chriſtian ſtands in unto God, immediately up-his entring into the relation, all the bleſſings of the relation lye before him: Now the p. 114leaſt degree of grace doth admit to the Relation; and now being admitted, all the bleſſedneſs, all the glory, all the ſweetneſs, all the comfort, all the happineſs of the Relation, lye before this man, as well as before him that hath the greateſt degree of grace. You will ſay, what is the glory of the Relation? Nay what glory is there that is not in any relation that belongs to the Goſpel? In every Goſpel Relation there is a fulneſs of glory, and a fulneſs of Bleſſedneſs. Now, no ſooner is a poor creature admitted into the Relation, but all the bleſſedneſs of the Relation ly's open before him; And the leaſt degree of grace admits into the Relation. The Lord doth not deal with his people that are related to him as we do, firſt bring him into one Relation, and then into another Relation, and then into a higher Relation, and then into a nearer Relation. As now many times men bring one firſt into their Family, take him up it may be by the high way, or a neighbours Child, and make him a poor and mean Servant in the Family, it may be, a Scullion, or the like; and then take him up to a higher place, after that to a higher place, till at length he come to make him his Child, and not only his Child, but his heir: But now I pray friends conſider, God, p. 115doth not deal ſo with his people, but he takes them into all Relations at one and the ſame time. A Chriſtian, that hath the leaſt degree of grace, ſtands in the higheſt Relations to God: God doth not make him firſt a Servant, and then a Steward, and afterwards adopt him, and afterward ſtate all his Glory and Kingdom upon him; but at one and the ſame time, when grace is firſt wrought, then all the Relations of the Goſpel lye open together to the leaſt degree of grace: If a Son then an Heir. The Apoſtle concludes that, and that is right Goſpel arguing, and that upon the leaſt degree of grace; if a Servant, then a Friend; if a Friend then a Son; and if a Son, then an Heir, a joint Heir with Jeſus Chriſt. Goſpel Relations bear not proportion to the graces of the Relation, they are not more or leſs as grace in us is more or leſs; No but one manat the ſame time, that hath theleaſt degree of grace, all the Relations of the Goſpel lye open before him. Though you have not as much grace as others, yet there are as many Relations, and as great Relations between God and you, as others, yea as there are between God and the beſt Chriſtian in the world; and, let me tell you, the meaneſt Chriſtian in our days hath all the Relations of the Goſpel, lying open to him, as well as the beſt Diſciples that ever p. 116Jeſus Chriſt had either in or after his daies; and if ſo, my friends, then no wonder why God is ſo concerned about a little grace, Yet, ſaies he, ſhall not the leaſt grain fall upon the Earth.

5. The leaſt degree of grace bears an eſſential likeneſs to Chriſt, as well as the greateſt degree of grace doth. I ſay there is an eſſential reſemblance in the leaſt degree of grace unto Chriſt as well as in the greateſt; every ſpark of fire is true fire as well as the greateſt fire in your Chimney. I tell you, Chriſtians, the leaſt grace is Chriſt within you, there is the whole Image of Chriſt, there is the love of Chriſt, and there is the holineſs of Chriſt, and there is the meekneſs of Chriſt, and there is the lowlineſs of Chriſt; there is in that little an Eſſential Reſemblance of Chriſt, therefore no wonder that God takes ſo much care for and about a little grace

Appl. Is it ſo, That for theſe reaſons God doth look after the leaſt grace in the leaſt Chriſtian, Then O do you make much of a little duty; God makes a great account of a little grace, do you make a great account of a little duty. If you have but little breathings of heart after God and Chriſt, Jeſus in your heart, do not deny it, do not ſay, It is not likely that theſe ſhould be p. 117regarded; why? becauſe they are but ſome weak faint breathings: You ſee that God looks after a little grace in your hearts and maketh a great account of it; Therefore, I beſeech you, having received a little from God make you great account of that little. I will but urge this with theſe two conſiderations.

1. Seeing God makes a great account of that little that thou haſt, Let me only ask you this Queſtion, Whether it be not better for you to follow the example of God, than to follow the Devils example? The devil would have you to make nothing of a little, God and Jeſus Chriſt would have you to make great account of a little; Satans deſign is, when he cannot hinder the work, to ecclypſe the glory of the work that is wrought, and to abate and allay the beauty of the work that is wrought, that is Satans buſineſs and deſign. I pray, friends, conſider, you hear it is Gods way to make much of a little, Now, whether will you fall in with God or with Satan? He would make little of a great deal of grace, yea he would make nothing of it; but God he makes a great deal of a little grace. O, Sirs, do you therefore in imitation of God & Chriſt Jeſus, do you alſo make much of it; you ſee God hath made ſo much of it that he hath made it the p. 118peculiar, ſpecial matter of a diſtinguiſhing promiſe; well, ſays he, though I will command and ſift the Houſe of Iſrael, and I will turn them out of one ſieve into another, yet, ſaies he, ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the earth. I will not loſe the leaſt grain, no not for all the Aſſyrians, for all the Babylonians, no not for all the Devils in Hell, I will not loſe the leaſt grain. God hath other manner of thoughts of the leaſt work of grace thou haſt, than I am perſwaded moſt Chriſtians have of the greateſt works of grace.

2. Truly you do not know how ſoon this little may grow up to a great deal. It is the hypotheſis of our Lords arguing, ſays he, ſince thou haſt not been faithful in a little, who will truſt thee with more? So I ſay, on the other hand, if thou beeſt faithful with a little, if thou admire the condeſcenſion of the grace of God, to work a little grace in thy heart, how doſt thou know but God may the next Sermon work a great deal more? Jeſus Chriſt may come the next opportunity with a full hand, and empty his hand into thy heart; thou doſt not know how ſoon this little may be made a great deal. If you be faithful in the improvement of a little, if you be thankful for a little, if you do make great account, as God doth, p. 119of a little, then grace will ſoon add more, You know not how ſuddenly you may be ſurpriſed with more. I am verily perſwaded, that one great reaſon why men grow no more in grace, is, becauſe they deſpiſe their little ſo much: One great reaſon why God gives no more grace is, becauſe they deſpiſe their little grace ſo much. Chriſtians, I beſeech you, if you have but a little, O make great account of that little, if there be but a grain; It is one of Gods grains caſt in by Jeſus Chriſt and the Spirit of Jeſus Chriſt, into thy heart, make much of it, becauſe thou doeſt not know how ſoon more may come, Says Chriſt, Take the Talent from him that did not uſe it; & give it to him that had five even ſo the Lord may come and ſay, here is a poor creature, his heart leapt within him for Joy becauſe I have given him a little grace, this Soul is always bleſſing me for a little, I will give him more. Truly, Chriſtians, a high eſteem of a little grace is much becoming the beſt Chriſtians; if God hath given you but a little, I am ſure that little is more than you deſerve; the ſmalleſt things of the Goſpel, ſhould be ſpent with a crying grace, grace. Therefore my friends in obſervance of God, and in imitation of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, I pray ſet your eye and p. 120your heart upon that little, let there be a great value and eſteem put upon your little grace, becauſe you ſee here the Lord doth make it the matter of a ſpecial promiſe: Under all ſhakings, when great ſtorms are up, and when wrath hath hold of the the Sieve & ſhakes it in the hand of the malicious Aſſyrian, or of the malicious Babylonian, when the wrath of God ſhakes the Sieve, then the heart of God is upon the leaſt grain, and the hand of God will never ſuffer the leaſt grain to fall. For Lo, ſays he, I will command and ſift the houſe of Iſrael in the ſieve of the Nations, as Corn is ſifted in a ſieve, yet ſhall not the leaſt Grain fall upon the Earth.

p. 121SERMON VI.

Amos 9. Verſe 9.

For Lo, I will command, and I will ſift the Houſe of Iſrael among all Nations, like as Corn is ſifted in a ſieve, yet ſhall not the leaſt grain fall upon the Earth.

THE dependance of this Subject upon my former Diſcourſes, and the concurrence of it in the ſame general deſign, I cleared in the morning. As an Introduction to this Evenings Diſcourſe, I would only obſerve theſe two things from the Context to you; and the firſt is, That it is a gracious Promiſe, ſucceeding the dreadfuleſt threatnings; Iſrael had offended, and the Lord of Iſrael takes to the offence; and therefore in a more than ordinary manner, the whole concern of the threatning is uſher'd in by the Prophet, in verſe 1. I ſaw (ſays he) the Lord ſtanding upon the Altar, and he ſays, Smite the Lintel, ſmite the Lintel of the door, that the poſts may ſhake; a concuſſion, a ſhaking of the Inſtitutions, and the Ordinances of the Temple, ſeems p. 122to uſher in this Prophecy; and what the ſmiting of the Lintel of the door that the Prophet obſerves is, you may ſee in the ſucceeding verſes; and the Lord's reſolve is, to take them, however they did attempt to ſecure themſelves from him; though they dig into Hell, thence ſhall my hand take them; though they climb up to Heaven, I will bring them down. Sirs, There's no eſcaping of the hand of God, when once the Lord ſtands upon the Altar, and commands the Lintel of the door to be ſmitten; he gives the reaſon and the account of that in the next verſes; I ſhall not intermeddle with them; but yet, notwithſtanding all that he had threatned againſt his People, he comes in with this promiſe; Yet (ſays he) ſhall not the leaſt grain fall upon the Earth. I the Lord (ſays he) will command, and I will ſift the houſe of Iſrael, and it ſhall be with the Sieve of the Nations that hate the houſe of Iſrael. Lord (might Iſrael ſay) here's nothing but deſolation; yea, (ſays God) look to it; yet of all the Tribes of Iſrael, while the Nations are ſifting the Houſe of Iſrael: I will look after the grain; there ſhall not one grain fall to the ground, no not the leaſt.

Another thing I would obſerve, That this ſeems to have an aſpect upon Goſpel-times: Lo, (ſays he) I will command, and yet p. 123ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the ground. Waving other conſiderations, I will only obſerve this one thing, That it is at that time, when God will raiſe up the Tabernacle of David; God throws his People by ſhovel-fulls as it were, into the Sieve of the Nations: It is not the Chaff, but the Corn that the Nations envy: It is not thoſe that are formal and ſuperſtitious Profeſſors, but the ſerious practical Chriſtians that are the hated; yet (ſays God) as to them, there ſhall not a grain fall to the Earth; and I ground this Obſervation upon a paſſage in the 11th verſe. In that day (ſays he) will I raiſe up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen. When will God ſhew this diſtinguiſhing kindneſs? and when will God glorifie himſelf in fulfilling the Promiſe? in that day when God will raiſe up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen, and cloſe up the breaches; in that day. I pray you turn to Acts 15. v. 16. and there you ſhall ſee, James he is there vindicating ſome practices of Peter, in going to, and alſo in communicating with the Gentiles; Simon (ſays he) hath declared, how that God did at firſt viſit the Gentiles: And to this agree the words of the Prophet; Afterward I will return, and build the Tabernacle of David that is fallen: So that here p. 124is an Old-Teſtament Promiſe fulfill'd, not only upon the Jews, but upon the Gentiles. I have not time to open the myſtery that is compris'd in that, only I think it is the Goſpel-Government of Chriſt; and at that time will the Lord take eſpecial care of the leaſt grain, that it ſhall not fall upon the Earth: Though he commands, and though he ſifts the houſe of Iſrael according to the Spirit in the Sieve of the Nations, yet then ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the Earth.

This ſeems to me to be the true import of the Context; and I hope theſe Obſervations will make way for the Application of what I have delivered, and what I ſhall deliver to be the Caſes of Chriſtians, and the Caſe of the Church of Chriſt in all their circumſtances.

That which I laid as the foundation of the whole Diſcourſe was this, That even in the worſt of times, God will take eſpecial care of the leaſt of Chriſtians. The meaneſt Chriſtians are the eſpecial care, and the charge of God, and Chriſt, when the generality of Chriſtians are expoſed to the greateſt danger: Says God, I will command, and I will ſift, Why, yet ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the Earth.

Divers Reaſons I gave you, the fifth was this;

p. 125V. That the Lord will take ſpecial care of the meaneſt Chriſtians in the hazardouſeſt times, becauſe, the meaneſt Chriſtian hath the perfect Image of Chriſt upon him; there is not indeed the perfection of degrees, yet there is a perfect Image; they are not come to their pitch of Chriſtianity, yet they have all attained unto their eſſential being of their Chriſtianity; every little Grace is a full repreſentative of Chriſt; the leaſt grain of Wheat is truly Wheat, as well as the fulleſt, and the moſt pregnant grain is; there is the nature of Chriſt, and the nature of a Chriſtian, in the meaneſt Chriſtian that breaths upon the face of the Earth, (as he was in the form of a Servant) and I pray obſerve, that the expreſs Image of his Fathers glory (as you have it) Heb. 1. The brightneſs of his Glory, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon was upon him; Who is this? why the Man Jeſus, he that was the Lord's Servant, and the Servant to Rulers, and that took upon him the form of a Servant; he at that time was the expreſs Image of his Perſon, the brightneſs of his Glory; truly, my Friends, ſo I may ſay, take a poor Chriſtian under the greateſt diſadvantages, ſuppoſe driven into the Wilderneſs, tempted of the Devil, you may look on p. 126him and ſay, There goes one that is the expreſs Image of Jeſus Chriſt, and another that hath divers temptations and afflictions ſurrounding him, you may ſay, there lies one upon his Bed, there ſits another in his Corner, that is the expreſs Image of Jeſus; Ay but he hath but a little grace; well, the whole Image of Chriſt is in that little. Thoſe that are well inſtructed in drawing and limning, they can as well in a little compaſs draw the perfect Effigies, as they can in a great compaſs. Truly my Friends, though your limbs be not ſo big (as I may ſay) though your countenances be not ſo big, your graces be not ſo big, yet here's a true repreſentation of Chriſt; where's the leaſt grace there's a full and expreſs Image of the Perſon of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and therefore the Lord will take care, becauſe of the Image. Says Chriſt, when they brought him by an enſnaring queſtion, to give them a reſolve, why ſhew me the penny, whoſe is the Image? So my Friends, if you bring your own hearts to the Lord, the Lord will ask the queſtion, Whoſe Image, whoſe Superſcription is it? and will anſwer himſelf, it is my own; it is my own Superſcription and Image, though it be in ſo ſmall a compaſs. Chriſtians, I would have you conſider, p. 127that God and Chriſt have great tenderneſs for things without proportion; though you have not ſo much Faith, nor ſo much Love, nor ſo much Humility, yet if you have true Faith, true Love, true Humility, God and Chriſt will know his own; God will know his own Image, though drawn in the leaſt compaſs. I will open this in theſe two branches. that I might make manifeſt the rationality of this proceed of the Lord; and the firſt is this;

1. That there is no part of the Image of Chriſt in any heart, but that does diſcover the whole Image to be really and indeed in the heart. And my reaſon is, becauſe God creates nothing imperfectly neither in the New, nor in the Old Creation, nothing imperfectly; he takes Adam's Rib out of his ſide, and he makes a perfect Image, and repreſentation of that; and he takes up Clay or Red Earth, and he makes a perfect man of that. Truly Chriſtians, let me tell you, that all monſtruous conceptions are the iſſues (either on the one hand or the other) of the degeneracy, and not the products of the Creation. So here, where God hath created the likeneſs of Chriſt, in love there is (you may conclude) the likeneſs of Chriſt in p. 128all other Excellencies; the Lord does not uſe to turn the new Creatures out of his hand by peece-meal, or by parts, now a little, and then a little, but the whole is where there is an eſſential part; You ſhall find all along, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt owning theſe principles in his carriage towards his Diſciples, and towards them with whom he did converſe; you can hardly diſcover, in his own diſciples, ſo much (while he lived) as to make up a diſtinct intire Chriſtian as to parts in equal proportion, and yet notwithſtanding though Chriſt obſerved it, yet you ſhall find he owned them as his own, and called them his own, Joh. 13. Having loved his own, he loved them to the end. What think you? Was Peter like Chriſt? And did he expreſs any thing of the Image of Chriſt? when he knew that his Lord could have commanded Angels for his ſecurity, yet he truckles at the accuſation of a ſilly Girl.

2. That little grace that is in us, does diſcover a whole right to all Chriſt, and to all the Conſequences of every thing, that in any Capacity Jeſus Chriſt did or ſuffered. God does not ſtand with Chriſtians (as I may ſay) upon ſuch punctilioes as one Chriſtian ſtands with another upon; God p. 129is wiſe, and knows that any thing of his Son, is a Goſpel-evidence of full right; And therefore it is becauſe of his evidence, that the Lord will look after and concern himſelf in the leaſt grain. And that is the fifth reaſon.

I will but add one more, for I would not prevent my ſelf in the Application, and that is this.

VI. The leaſt grain of grace is as really and as truly, new-covenant grace, as the greateſt degree of grace is, or can be ſuppoſed to be. Or if you will, the leaſt Chriſtian that hath but true grace, is as really a New-Covenant Chriſtian, as he that hath moſt grace, and therefore God will look after him; When he is ſifting Iſrael in the ſieve of the Nations, he will look after the grain.

I pray do but obſerve theſe two things for the clearing of this;

1. When the Lord Covenants to write his Laws, he does not covenant to write them all in the ſame proportion, in all hearts in the ſame proportion; But this is the Covenant, I will write my Laws; and the proportion that is to be written, in the hearts of the Sons, and Daughters of men, is left to his pleaſure to be done. Many are ready to queſtion that little they have, becauſe they have not p. 130ſo much as another; pray, when did God ingage himſelf to proportion thy grace to thy Brothers? yet though it be in a leſſer proportion, it is as truly New-Covenant writing, as the writing of a greater. Do but turn if you pleaſe to that paſſage in the New Teſtament, Heb. 8. ver. 8. Behold the dayes come that I will make a New Covenant, with the Houſe of Iſrael, and the Houſe of Judah; not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers. &c. But ver. 10. I will put my Laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts. Hath every one the ſame proportion of Goſpel-knowledge in their head? No, they have not, yet every one hath a ſaving proportion. So as to grace in the heart, you ſhall find there is a difference in the proportion, though not in the nature of the thing that is proportioned; I will write my Laws in their hearts. Here's enough. And when a New-Covenant promiſe hath taken place in the heart, the dreadfulleſt Old-Covenant threatning hath nothing to do there. It may be he hath written but ſome rough Character in thy heart, at the preſent, why that is enough to exempt thee from all the Old Covenant proceeds, and to give thee right to all the New-Covenant Bleſſings; and if you cannot ſee it ſo well, God I am ſure can.

p. 1312. But the leaſt grace that God hath created in the heart, hath the moſt Subſtantial promiſes made to it. I pray Chriſtians, is it not a more Subſtantial promiſe, that you ſhall be eternally filled with joy in the houſe of your Father in the Kingdom of glory, than to be filled with joy while you live here at the footſtool? for my part I think if I ſhould never have comfortable day while I live, it would be a great happineſs, to have ſecret aſſurance that I ſhall have an eternal day of Bleſſedneſs; it may be my condition may be laid open to temptation, and it may be thine, and thou mayeſt be yet tryed with a Tryal that is nearer a fiery Tryal, than any yet thou haſt been laid under; but what then? (Saies the Apoſtle) (that I think had his ſhare in Sufferings,) Theſe light afflictions work for us a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory. Now upon this account it is, that God looks after the leaſt grain. I ſhall paſs to the improvement, and deliver my ſenſe as to the improveableneſs of it, in theſe five or ſix practical Concluſions.

Ʋſe. 1 And the firſt is this; Will God in the ſiftings of Iſrael take care that the leaſt grain do not fall to the Earth? Then let every one look upon themſelves as greatly p. 132concerned to be made Gods grains. My meaning is, to get grace though it be never ſo little. Satan hath two deſigns by way of dilemma upon you; if you eſcape the one, a thouſand to one, but you fall into the other, and what are theſe deſigns of Satan? truly the deſign lyes here; What, ſhouldeſt thou be content with ſo little, when others that have been more ſinful have more? deſpiſe and ſlight the little, becauſe it is not likely thou ſhouldeſt ever attain to much: and how does he manage it? Thou art old (he ſaies to one) and therefore it is not likely thou ſhouldeſt live long, and therefore canſt not expect to grow; if thou hadſt begun betimes, it had been ſomething like. And to thoſe that are young; all in good time yet: See but ſuch a one, that liv'd a long time in the enjoyment of his pleaſure, and God look't upon him, and ſee how he grew up to a great deal of grace in a little time; here's the dilemma now, between the one and the other. My friends, I beſeech you therefore fix upon a little grace. I will open this in two Branches.

1. In the midſt of his ſevereſt diſpenſations God will find out a little grace. It may be you will ſay, will God look upon me? If p. 133I were as David (may the poor Soul ſay) and (may another ſay) if I were as the Angel of the Lord, the Lord would find me out; nay, ſtay proud Soul; it is enough if thou beeſt but weak, & let grace take it's own time to make thee as David, the weak ſhall be as David and David as the Angel of the Lord. Friends, I would beg of you, that you would not live without a little grace, and that you would live chearfully with a little grace until God give more.

2. The Second is this. That a little in being is as much as all in reverſion. Art thou but a ſmall grain? Pray who made thee a ſmall grain? Hath not he alſo the reſidue of the Spirit? Cannot he make the dry Tree to grow out of the dry ground? Cannot he make a little one a Nation? Surely he hath the reſidue of the Spirit. Let me tell you, God never begins with great things, in the moſt remarkable proceeds of grace that are by paſt, and that are to come; but he alwayes begins with a little, and ſo glorifies both his grace, and his power in making that little greater than all. Therefore pray Sirs, let me perſwade you, you that are young, and you that are old, if you canhope for a great deal, give God no reſt, till p. 134he give you a little; till he make you a little Chriſtian; give him no reſt. Oh bring your Children, and cry, Lord, a little grace for this Child; Oh bring your Servants, & cry, Lord, a little grace for this Servant; Oh caſt your hearts at the Footſtool of the Throne, and ſay, Lord a little grace for this graceleſs heart, if it be but a little, Lord. As thy Soul liveth (ſaies the Woman to the Prophet) I have but a little meal in the barrel, and a little oyl in the cruſe; What then (ſays the Prophet) come & make me a Cake. So I ſay my friends, as the Lord liveth, if he hath created a little grace, he will create more; and therefore my Friends, bleſs God for a little, and be not contented without a little.

Ʋſe 2 Will not the Lord ſuffer the leaſt grain to fall to the Earth in all the ſiftings? Then you may ſee the vaſt differences that are between the righteous and the wicked, and that in God's providential proceedings. I will throw (ſays he) the Tribes of Iſrael into the Sieve of the Nations; and what then? let the Chaff go; let the Chaff go; let the heads that have not grain in them fall to the Earth; Oh (ſays he) but the leaſt grain ſhall not fall to the Earth; you have God's Word for it. The great difference that God makes in his p. 135general Judgments between the righteous and the wicked.

I will open this in two Branches.

1. There is more that God likes, in the leaſt grain, than there is in heaps of the Chaff of the wicked; there is more that God likes, in the heart of the pooreſt Chriſtian, than God can diſcover in a whole Nation of Hypocrites put together: No, there is not ſo much as a poor Chriſtian hath, that hath but a little grace; caſt them into the ballance, and they are altogether lighter than vanity. When it came to the pinch indeed, (ſaies God,) I gave Ethiopia for thee, and Seba for thee; So I tell you my Friends, that God makes no account of the chaff, though it be never ſo bulky; but he makes much of a little grain; the leaſt grain ſhall not fall to the Earth, let the chaff go whither it will; burn it with unquenchable fire (ſaies the Lord) the leaſt grain ſhall not fall away, but the bulky chaff ſhall be burnt with unquenchable fire.

2. That little that a Chriſtian hath, can do more with God, and for God, than all that others have can do. It may be ſuch a one hath great parts, well, and what does he do for God? and another, he hath a great bulk of gifts, what can he do for God? p. 136What can he do? Truly all he can do is only this, to diſſemble with God, and to diſhonour God. The times have been, wherein gifts have been magnified above grace; and not long ſince, by many, but what is come of it? See the providences of God, how they are wheel'd about? And now grace is the only thing that will ſtand us inſtead in our day; and all the gifts that all the profeſſors of England had, cannot do ſo much as a little grace: it may be you have a name to live, and profeſs much; but where is your grace? One ſaies, I am of Paul, and another I am of Apollos, and what then? Where's the Image of Chriſt? you may be of Paul while you live, and go to Hell when you die; You may be of Apollos, when you are in the Body, and when you die (for ought I know) you may be haled to judgement by the Divels in Hell. Such a one, (you ſay) he prayes, he is a mighty man in Prayer; Sirs, I tell you, I value no more my own Prayers, that are Prayers of gifts, and there is no more in them; and God is no more glorified in them, than an empty ſound. But a few ſighs, and groans, ſent up to Heaven, in a way of grace; I tell you this does more for God, and with God, than a thouſand p. 137gifts can do. And if ſo, pray conſider what difference God makes, between the wicked, and the ſeed; obſerve the difference.

Ʋſe 3 Is it ſo that God will not ſuffer the leaſt grain to fall to the Earth? In theſe, and in ſuch times as theſe? Then I pray Sirs, Do not truſt your ſelves but God. There are many that truſt their own graces too much, and the grace of God too little; they think they have grace to keep them. I am ſure it is little ſign of grace, when that grace doth put you off from betruſting the grace of God. Chriſtians, truſt God more, and your ſelves leſs: alas, what can a little do Chriſtians? I pray lay the ſtreſs of your ſecurity, upon what God hath promiſed. Yet (ſaies God) there ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the Earth. Here is a promiſe of free grace, and there cannot be any thing at all in the grain, to enſue, or to merit this ſecurity: alas Sirs, what is there in our hearts, that hath moſt, that we ſhould talk of ſecuring our ſelves? Let him that ſtands (ſaies the Apoſtle) take heed leſt he fall. So I may tell you Sirs, our Zeal is no ſecurity, our Faith in it ſelf is no ſufficient ſecurity: but it is the grace of God that made the promiſe, that gives the Chriſtian ſecurity p. 138in ſuch a time. Such a man was tempted a while agoe, to turn his back upon Jeſus Chriſt; and he hath bidden farwell to Jeſus Chriſt, and is gone; I pray what ſecurity have you, that you may not be the next? is it your graces that keep you? No, no, it is the grace of God that ſecures you, and the grace of God that keeps you; and therefore I pray lay more ſtreſs upon that, though you lay leſs ſtreſs upon your own.

I will open this in two Branches.

1. Grace that is in you is but a Stream, from the Fountain of Grace that is in God; And it is but as the drop of a Bucket unto the fulneſs of Grace and Holineſs that is in Chriſt. Who made me (ſays Cain) my Brothers keeper? when God askt him where his Brother Abel was: Truly I may ſay to you, God never made your own Graces, the ſole keepers of your own Souls: Who made them? God did not I am ſure; becauſe our own Graces, without the Grace of God, can never keep our Souls from the temptations we meet withal; and therefore Sirs, I pray truſt a little more to this God that hath promiſed, yet ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the Earth; not becauſe it is a grain, but becauſe God hath promiſed, that the leaſt grain ſhall not fall.

p. 139But then, the ſecond thing that I would ſay is this.

2. Your own Graces, that you have in your own hearts, are eaſily ballanced, by the wickedneſs that is in the hearts of your Enemies. And I am ſure, they have more policy, and more power to manage their wickedneſs againſt your Grace, than you have wiſdom, or power to manage your Grace againſt their wickedneſs. The Devil hath more wickedneſs in his nature, than you have grace in your nature; it is top-full of wickedneſs; I am ſure your nature is not top-full of grace. We wreſtle not (ſays the Apoſtle) with fleſh and blood, but with principalities and powers. Alas, you are neither principality, nor power in your own grace. Do but ballance your ſecurity, and you will eaſily ſee the need of truſting to God, and not to your own grace.

Ʋſe 4 Is it ſo, that God hath ſaid, that the leaſt grain ſhall not fall to the Earth? Oh then, How does it concern every one to know, whether they have a grain of grace or no. Truly my Friends, I do think it is a matter of very great concernment, that you ſhould be, and we ſhould be all fully ſatisfied in this. The leaſt grain ſhall not fall, ay but an Ear that hath no grain in it p. 140may fall; the leaſt grain ſhall not fall, ay but the Chaff God caſts away; he will throughly purge his floor, and the Chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Now my Friends, I am not enquiring after your profeſſion of grace, but the grace that is the matter of your profeſſion; neither am I going about to diſcover a great deal of grace, full and florid grace, but my buſineſs is to enquire after the leaſt grace, and to diſcover unto you whether you have attained unto that bleſſedneſs, to be one of God's grains, the grain that is here in the Promiſe; though it be one of the leaſt of the grains? I would only ſay this one thing before I deſcend to particulars: Do not ſay you have grace enough, and therefore you are not concerned in the enquiry; I am ſure it is no ſign of a great deal of grace, to be ſhie of the diſcovery of a little grace; and a great deal of grace may be hid, when God chuſes the diſcovery by a little.

But you will ſay, Oh that I were but one of the leaſt of theſe grains of God! Oh that I were but one of thoſe that God hath ſanctified, though I were the leaſt of all his Saints that he hath ſanctified! Well my Friends, give me leave and I will open this to you in theſe two particulars. p. 141Would you know whether you be in the compaſs of the leaſt of theſe grains?

1. Then in the firſt place, I pray inquire, how ſtands your hearts affected? how ſtand your hearts affected to more? and to thoſe in whom there is more? Thoſe that have a natural life, they naturally incline to manifeſt their love, and their natural kindneſs to thoſe that are allied: The Child is naturally inclined to thoſe that are allied; Nature's dictates determine the heart in that caſe; ſo does New Nature incline to the ſame. How ſtands your hearts affected to thoſe that have a great deal of grace? How ſtand you affected to him that hath the Treaſures of all grace? He that hath a little, loves Jeſus Chriſt; he loves Chriſt as the Treaſury of more, though Chriſt at preſent ſuſpends the giving of more; though he ſees but little in his own heart, yet he cannot but love Jeſus Chriſt, that hath the diſpoſe of all. It is one ſign of true grace, that it is alwaies inclined to have more. Now Sirs, open your hearts for this word; How ſtand they affected to Chriſt? How ſtand they affected to ſuch Ordinances, where God does moſt ordinarily work grace? Says God to Ezekiel, Thou art to this people as a lovely Song; O poor people! p. 142There are many more pleaſed with the gifts of the Miniſter, than the grace of the Miniſter. Sirs, I pray conſider, How ſtand your hearts affected to grace? He that hath a little, would not loſe a little: A Child tends naturally to have life continued, and to have more: So I ſay, How ſtand your hearts affected to living Ordinances? a living Mediator? a Mediator that hath all grace? Let me tell you; if you do not love Chriſt as the Treaſury of grace, I ſuſpect your grace; if you do love Jeſus Chriſt, becauſe it hath pleaſed the Father that in him all fulneſs of grace ſhould dwell; I do not queſtion your grace; for it is grace to love Chriſt as the Lord Treaſurer of all grace.

2. Would you know whether you be one of theſe grains that God takes ſuch ſpecial care about? Then I pray do but enquire, and conſider with your ſelves, what thing it is that your hearts, and that your affections and minds are moſtly working towards? My meaning is plainly this; and I will illuſtrate it by this expreſſion; He that hath no grace, can be contented to be what he is, ſo his Conſcience will be quiet; but he that hath a little grace, cannot be content with a ſilent Conſcience, without more grace: Many there p. 143are that are greatly concerned about the Peace of their Conſcience; O they do not know what to do! Conſcience accuſes, the Devil ſeems to be let looſe, the Law comes in, Threatnings come in, alas, they know not what to do; riſe up, they have no peace; lie down, they have no peace, under Job's circumſtances, his very Bed was a trouble to him. Now my Friends, my buſineſs is not to enquire, what Conſcience ſays, but what your hearts naturally incline to: Do your hearts naturally incline to more grace? Some there are, can eaſily be ſatisfied, if they do but apprehend they have grace to ſave them; but a heart that hath true grace, though it be never ſo little, though it doth know it hath enough to ſave it, cannot be ſatisfied without it hath more: Now Chriſtians, look to your ſelves; God help you that you may all of you know, whether you be indeed of theſe grains that God hath ſaid ſhall not fall to the Earth.

Ʋſe 5 Is it ſo, That not one grain ſhall fall to the Earth in all theſe ſhakings? Then I pray carry and demean your ſelves as if you were in the hands of God, as perſons that are now under the Lord's Hand, under the Lord's Eye, and under p. 154the Lord's Promiſe. The Devil hath given (as I may ſay) many a thump at the Sieve, and yet you are in the Sieve ſtill; you are not on the ground ſtill; and the powers of the World have given many a ſhake, and yet you are in the enjoyment of your Priviledges, and Covenant-Relations ſtill, notwithſtanding all the blaſts the Devil hath raiſed while God hath been ſifting his People in the Sieve of the Nations.

1. Now, would you carry it as you ſhould, that the leaſt grain ſhould not fall; Then, let me tell you, that it becomes you to eye God, & to glorifie God for all your keeping hitherto. I know (ſays the Apoſtle) whom I have truſted. I pray Sirs, do but acknowledge him, and eye him, who for your ſakes, would truſt no body but himſelf; no, would not truſt the Nations, would not truſt any but himſelf, becauſe he knew his own power. Now Sirs, have you been kept in an hour of temptation? cry, Grace, grace: Have you been kept in an hour when the Powers of Darkneſs have been toſſing you about? Is there any fire in your hearts ſtill, though the Devil hath been heaping of Aſhes upon you? O admire the riches of God's grace and tenderneſs to you! Says God, Not one p. 145grain ſhall fall. Can you find that Love in your hearts, that was ſome years ago? Can you diſcover that Faith, that you had ſome while ſince in the Lord Jeſus ſtill abiding? O Sirs! Admire the Lord who hath ſaid, Not one grain ſhall fall. I will tell you one thing (which I think is the deſign of the day) that God is taking his People off from truſting to their own grace, that they might truſt more to, and acknowledge his grace. Alas, what help is in one poor, little, light grain? The Nations they are the Sieves, and there is many a terrible ſhake given; what is the reaſon you are ſtill in the Sieve? O Chriſtians! magnifie grace that your hearts are kept upon God: Magnifie grace that it is not with you, as it is with others.

2. I pray friends, if you have but a little; be always before the Throne of God for the increaſe of the little. You have but little grace, and it may be if examined, the leaſt of Gods grains: Bleſſed be God you have a little grace. But I tell you, if God hath kept you all this while, it is for ſome good; Sure it is for ſome good intent; Some good purpoſe: I pray Chriſtians do but conſider with your ſelves; Be not ſatisfied with what you have, but be always p. 146crying to God, that he would increaſe your little. Come (ſays the Prophet) let me ſee the Meal in the Barrel, & pour out the Oyl; O, my friends, be you alwayes pouring out your little Oyl; Alas, it is but a little grace in the bottom of your hearts. But be exerciſing it for more. Come make me a Cake (ſaies the Prophet.) Come Sirs, do you do ſomething with that little for God, and do you improve that little, while you are waiting upon God for more. This ſhould be your carriage. Now Sirs, what ſay your hearts? will they, or will they not? What anſwer muſt I give to God? He tells you, he will keep the leaſt grain, what return ſhall be made to God? Are you willing to return this, that you will not improve the little? Shall the Lord receive this return from your hearts at this time? I tell you that Jeſus Chriſt is expecting the anſwers of your hearts; and what is the anſwer of your hearts. You ſay to me in your heart, I hope, O what ſhall we do? How ſhall we carry it as becomes thoſe that are kept as the ſmalleſt of Gods graines? Now I tell you, you that are the leaſt, it becomes you to cry mightily to God that you may be more, and that this grain may be increaſed with the increaſe of God, even p. 147to an hundred fold; in a little time, the Lord can (if he pleaſe) make it increaſe ſo; why is that heart of thine ſo backward?

Ʋſe 6 The ſixth, and laſt improvement that I ſhall make of it is this; Is it ſo my friends, that God will not ſuffer the leaſt grain to fall to the Earth? Why then in theſe times, in ſifting times, in winnowing times, and when the Nations are the ſieve in the Lords hand: Why then Chriſtians, you that are the Lords grains under the care of Gods Eye, under the protection of Gods hand, and within the reach of the influence of Gods gracious heart; Do you Keep your hearts alwayes free and open. Do not think my friends, that ſifting times, are always ſeparating times; Keep as near to God as you can. When God throws you (as it were) from him, to be ſure he will recover you again to him; and therefore Chriſtians I pray you now, that you would do this; that you would keep near to God; that is your priviledge, and it is alſo your duty. Keep but in Gods hands, and you are well enough. Do not you, by reaſon of your own Corruptions, ſtart out of Gods way. God hath the ſieve in his own hand; The Nation is but a ſieve p. 148(as I may ſay) pray, while God would have you there, keep there, don't ſtep out of the Lords way till the Lord hath done all his work.

I pray obſerve one thing for the opening of it, and that is this; Live by this principle, let the Lord take his own courſe with you, to finiſh his own work upon you. The Lord he is offended at Iſrael, and he takes the Rod of his anger into his hand, and he breaks them, and bruſes them: Ay, but there were ſome in Iſrael that did keep in the Lords way; and what then? When the Lord hath accompliſht his work upon Mount Sion, why then he will break the Rod. My friends, do but look upon temptations, and afflictions, you meet withal as means, and methods, that he purge you with; Is there no chaff hangs upon the Corn? I believe there is too much; it may be God hath a mind to ſhake thee out of thy profeſſion, that is, out of confidence in, or lurking under thy profeſſion for ſecurity. Here's a little chaff hangs, and God hath a mind it ſhall be burnt, and it ſticks very cloſe, and God he will give it another ſhake in the Sieve. Why Sirs, let the Lord alone in his own way; He is ſifting; Ay but he will look p. 149after the Wheat, while he is ſifting; pray Chriſtians, let God alone. It may be God is trying you this way, it may be God is trying another, another way; trying a Servant by a Miſtreſs; trying a Parent by a Child, trying a Child by a Parent, trying a Miſtreſs by a Servant. Why, what is the meaning of all? Why yet there is a little ſticks to the grain. O Sirs, I tell you, God would I have you all clean, and let God alone in the way of his own proceeds with you; he will look after the grain, and it's no matte… …f the chaff be burnt.

And now I pray Sirs, having thus ſtretch't forth my hand to you, what is the return I ſhall make, to him that ſent me? Are you willing to abide in Gods way? And let God alone in his own way? Chriſtians ſhould be willing that God ſhould ſift, till the grain be clean. You do not take the chaff and the grain, to make your ſelves bread of; it is not fit for your uſe till it be ſiſted. Well Sirs, I tell you, there may be a little grain, but God hath a mind to ſift you a little more: he will make you fit for his uſe, before he hath done with you. And therefore let him alone in his way; Does God afflict you? p. 150I pray keep in Gods way, though it be in a way of affliction, though it be in a way of Tryal, do not you leap, or ſtep out of the way of God; No, no, It is a dangerous thing for a Chriſtian, to be found wandering alone in an evil time. All that I ſhall ſay as the cloſe of the whole is this; You ſee my Friends, that God commands the Sieve. Behold (ſaies God) I will command, what will God command? Why I will command the Aſſyrian into the uſe of a ſieve, and I will command the Babylonian into the uſe of a ſieve, and I will command Edom into the uſe of a ſieve; I will command this Nation, and the other Nation; you ſee my Friends, what ever inſtruments God makes uſe of, he hath a peculiar regard unto the leaſt grace, and the leaſt Chriſtian; I will command them and I will ſift. Chriſtian, the worſt of thy condition is ſtill in the Lords hand: And therefore I pray Chriſtians upon the review of the whole; conſidering God hath ſaid, that he will do the buſineſs; if God ſaies, I will ſift ſuch a one, in the Sieve of Temptation, I will try him this way; I will ſift another with afflictions, I will try him that way; I pray'e let God alone. Keep your hearts alwaies open to p. 151him; keep in the way of God, and then you will be found inheriting of the bleſſing of theſe Sermons, and it will be ſaid, Lo, though the Lord hath ſifted them, yet not one grain is loſt. And you may ſay, Lo, though the Lord is ſifting me in the ſieve of the Nations, yet I ſhall not loſe one grain. For this is his word; I will Command, and I will ſift them, in the ſieve of the Nations: As Corn is ſifted in a ſieve, yet ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the Earth.

p. 111SERMON VII.

Amos 9. Verſe 9.

For Lo, I will Command and I will ſift the Houſe of Iſrael among all Nations, as Corn is ſifted in a ſieve, yet ſhall not the leaſt grain fall upon the Earth.

THe words are a reſerve of grace, this and the preceding verſe are a mixture of wrath and mercy. The greateſt diſcovery of wrath that ordinarily we meet withal, and yet the greateſt reſerve of grace and mercy that ordinarily we meet withal in the Scripture. The diſcovery's of wrath I ſhall only deſire a little to deſcant upon, ſays the Prophet in the 8. v. The Eyes of the Lord are upon a ſinful Kingdom; and what then? I will deſtroy it, ſays he, from off the face of the Earth; and at the 9. v. ſays he, Lo I will command & I will ſift the Houſe of Iſrael among all Nations. Nations of all Tempers, and p. 122Nations of all Spirits, be they of an Egypttian or of a Babylonian Spirit, be they of an Edomitiſh Spirit, or of any Spirit whatſoever, ſays God, I will ſift them among all Nations. It is as much as if God ſhould ſay, I will let looſe all ſorts of Spirits, that are evil, and afflictive, upon the ſinful Kingdom, the Houſe of Iſrael; behold, ſays God, the Eyes of the Lord are upon a ſinful Kingdom. I pray obſerve;

Obſ. That your preſence with, or your relation, to a Religious People, cannot ſecure you from the dreadful threatnings that are denounced againſt the Irreligious, by a Holy God. Lo, ſays he, I will command, &c. And I do not remember a like paſſage, upon the like occaſion, in the Scripture; I will command, ſays he, and I will ſift the Houſe of Iſrael, and the Eyes of the Lord are upon a ſinful Kingdom. Sirs, it is not enough to be with Chriſtians, and to walk with Chriſtians, except you your ſelves be Chriſtians; it is not your being with, or walking with, the Lords People, that can ſecure you from the Lords threatnings. But yet notwithſtanding the dreadfulneſs of the threatning, here is a double reſerve of grace; in the 8. v. he concludes with a reſerve of grace, and indeed it is the manner of God, in the Old Teſtament, to p. 123wind up his dreadful threatnings in the moſt incouraging promiſes of abſolute grace, ſaving, that I will not utterly deſtroy the Houſe of Jacob, ſaith the Lord. I will only obſerve this one thing to you, that whenever you meet with the word Jacob in Scripture, you may conclude that the Holy Ghoſt doth intend a diſcovery both of the Politick, and of the Spiritual weakneſs of that People, and when you meet with the word Iſrael, then it hath relation to that name which the Angel of the Lord gave to Jacob upon his wreſtling with him, and it doth import the ſtrength of the People; ſaving, ſays he, that I will not utterly deſtroy the Houſe of Jacob, though they be never ſo contemptible, though never ſo weak, yet, ſays he, for all my anger, and for all my threatnings, for all my Juſtice and Holineſs; as if he had ſaid, yet I will not utterly deſtroy the Houſe of Jacob. The like reſerve of grace you have in the words of the Text, yet ſhall not the leaſt grain fall upon the Earth; though the Lord ſeems to caſt them out of his hand and out of his care, yet his Heart works towards them; if there be but, among a heap of Tares, a grain of Wheat, though it be never ſo little, if there be but the Seed of God, there is Seminal Vertue in it, yet, p. 124ſays God, ſhall not the leaſt grain fall upon the Earth: And the reaſon of Gods kindneſs in general is this, the enmity of the Nations is againſt the grains, and the kindneſs and grace of God doth extend unto the leaſt grain; and therefore notwithſtanding the enmity of Hell, and of thoſe that are ſpirited by Hell, yet God hath ſaid, Lo, I will command and I will ſift, he will command and he will ſecure, he will ſecure the leaſt grain, that it falls not to the Earth. Brethren, you that have attained to greater meaſures of grace, think not your ſelves unconcerned in this word, the time may come you may ſee little enough, and thoſe that have moſt grace, are many times leaſt ſenſible.

The obſervation was this,

Doct. That in the moſt deſolating general Common Calamity of profeſſing Nations, God will look after the leaſt of thoſe that are ſincere profeſſours.

It is the leaſt grace in the heart, and the leaſt Chriſtian in the company, that Gods Eye is upon, and the Lords heart is towards, and the Lords Arm is about; yet, ſaies he, ſhall not the leaſt grain fall to the Earth.

I ſhall proceed to what remains, and that is yet to give you a further account of the Lords p. 125kindneſs, and of the Lords gracious care of his little ones, in the moſt perilous and dangerous times: Temptations are high, perſecutions are high, corruptions are high, yet if there be but the leaſt grace, thy Soul ſhall not miſcarry. In the further proſecution of this Subject, I ſhall only commend to your ſerious conſideration, theſe four Scripture obſervations.

1. And the firſt is this. Therefore the leaſt Chriſtian, that hath the leaſt grace, ſhall not eternally miſcarry and fall to the Earth, when the Chaff and Tares do: Becauſe that the Lord, in the manage of the diſpenſations of his providence, will ſo deal with Chriſtians, as he dealt with Chriſt, and let me tell you that Chriſt and the Spirit of Chriſt, are alſo conſenting to, and concerned in, this reſolve. What a poor thing was it, that all the Roman Empire, and all the ſtate of the People of Iſrael, the Jews, ſhould be concerned againſt a Carpenters Son, and yet they could not carry it he, ſingles out only a few Fiſher-men for his Companions, and yet they were not able, with all their intereſt, and with all their learning, to bring any thing to any period againſt their attempts. The Prophet Iſaiah, in the 53 Chap. of his prophecy, gives us an account of the firſt ſenſe of the People p. 126of Iſrael, which was the grand practical principle of theirs, and the Romans reſolve againſt him the 2 verſe: For he ſhall grow up as a tender plant, as a root out of a dry ground, he hath no form nor comelineſs, and when we ſhall ſee him, there is no beauty that we ſhould deſire him Is this the Meſſiah (as if they ſhould ſay) which is the matter of all the promiſes and prophecies, of the Old Teſtament? No this is not he; is not this, ſay they (when he did appear) the Carpenters Son, the poor Child of the contemptible Carpenter, whoſe Father and Mother is with us? We know him well enough, and yet notwithſtanding all the meanneſs of his deſcent and the unlikelyneſs of his producing his deſigned ſucceſs in the World, yet he carries on all before him; whilſt he was living the Phariſees themſelves and the Scribes were afraid of him: If we let this man alone, ſay they, the World will run after him, and the Romans will come, and take away our Nation from us. Such a ſecret ſenſe they had of the ſucceſs, and a ſecret power that did begin to appear, and would further appear in the management of his miniſtry. Now, my friends, we grow up all as roots out of dry ground. Take a willow, and plant it upon the top of a mountain, which is a dry ſandy ground, p. 127it is not like to grow there; ſo take a Chriſtian that hath but a little light, and but a little grace, plant him in a wicked family, amongſt a company of wicked Neighbours, you will think he is not likely to make any thing of his Chriſtianity there: Father is againſt him, Mother againſt him, Brethren againſt him, every mans hand is againſt the new Profeſſor, and yet he grows. And this Root that is growing out of a dry ground hath many a pluck, Satan gives a pluck at it, and the World gives a pluck at it, and yet the root continues in the ground, and this root that is thus planted in this dry ground, an unlikely place to produce any thing to any Spiritual or eternal purpoſe, goes on its way; why ſurely, my friends, this muſt needs diſcover a great reaſon why Chriſtians that are unlikely to be ſecured, unlikely to live, why they ſhould both live and be ſecured in their life; why? Becauſe the Lord Jeſus Chriſt was ſo dealt withal. I ſhall give you two illuſtrations of this.

1. And the firſt is this: It is the general deſign of the Goſpel, that all things ſhould be ſo carryed on, and managed, that it might be to the advancement of free grace: To cut off, as the Apoſtle ſays, all occaſion of boaſting in our ſelves, for if we do conſider p. 128what we have to boaſt of, alas, you that are ſtrong you were as weak as others, you that have your Hearts, as you apprehend now, full of grace, they were once as empty as others, and you that are now, as it were, in full communion and fellow ſhip with God, you once ſtood at an equal diſtance with others, what have you to boaſt of? When the Lord would cut off all occaſion of boaſting from the People of Iſrael, ſays he, thy Father was an Ammorite, and thy Mother an Hitite, and thy Birth and Nativity were of the Land of Canaan, here I pray conſider in the ſequel of this diſcourſe of his, in the 16 of Ezekiel, the general State of every profeſſor from firſt to laſt, I found thee in thy Blood, ſays he, caſt out to the loathing of thy Perſon. What could be preſaged or preſumed upon as to this but only death, nothing but miſery and ruin could atend thee, I found thee in thy Blood, as a Child new born, caſt out into the open Field, expoſed unto the varieties of Weather, ſays God, ſo I found thee. Thy Father was an Ammorite and thy Mother an Hitite; well what then? ſee the deſign of God v. 8, when I paſſed by thee and looked upon thee, behold thy time was a time of love: As if the Lord ſhould ſay, and would have us to underſtand, that all his dealings with us ſhould p. 129be acknowledged by us to be the Iſſues of his free grace, afterwards you ſhall find how the Lord deckt her with Ornaments, and clothed her with broidered work, and ſhod her with badgers Skins, and girded her about with fine linnen from the 10 verſe, and ſo on. He goes on to diſcover her beauty and yet ſhe was found in her bloud caſt out to the loathing of her perſon, and yet the Lord made her ſo beautiful and ſo comely that there was none to be compared to her, and the ſame of her beauty went forth throughout all the Earth. Truly, Chriſtians, the Lord hath diſcovered the ſame thing to be his deſign in the new Teſtament, as the Apoſtle ſaies in his Epiſtle to the Romans, he concludes them all under ſin; all Children of wrath, all in their blood, all polluted and what is the deſign? that no fleſh, ſaies he, may glory in his ſight. So that you ſee here, Chriſtians, that the Lords deſign is to make us conformable to Chriſt and he will take care of us & about us in our low condition, and this is his deſign that neither thoſe that are weak Chriſtians, nor thoſe that are ſtrong Chriſtians, ſhould aſcribe any thing to themſelves but that we ſhould cry, grace, grace, to every little work of p. 130grace and to the ſmalleſt gifts of grace.

2. The Lord will take care of the meaneſt grace, becauſe he will deal by them as he dealt by his own Son that ſo their hearts may be more united unto Chriſt, That their hearts may be more encouraged under all their Spiritual diſcouragements to fall in with Chriſt. Why thou ſayeſt alas, I am a dry Tree, and it may be thou haſt been ſo theſe many years, and thou cryeſt out, O this wilderneſs heart of mine! O this barren heart of mine; I can ſee nothing at all in it, but every temptation runs me down, every body tramples upon me. Why it was ſo with Chriſt, as to his worldly Adverſaries, though not ſo as to his Spiritual Adverſaries; but, my friends, here lay the deſign of God concerning you, that you alſo may be encouraged to come to Chriſt who was lookt upon as the leaſt grain in all Gods. Sieve, He grew, as I obſerved, as a root out of a dry ground, he was deſpiſed of the nations, and he was abhorred of the people, that is, as he was conſidered under the notion of a Meſſiah or Mediator: ſo I ſay the Lord Chriſt was deſpiſed. Well it may be ſo are you deſpiſed and diſcouraged, and the Lord hath a good end in permiſſive providences, and in preſent poſitive providences about your littleneſs, and about your p. 131deſpiſedneſs; the Lord hath a good end in it, and what is the end of the Lord but to bring you nearer unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? Why, Chriſtians, let me tell you, the meaneſt of you may ſay in ſome ſenſe, Lord, thou wert even as we are the deſpiſed of the nations, thou waſt abhorred of the people even as we are, thou wert tempted as we are. And I will but only add one thing more, that God expoſed his Son to greater ſervitude then ever he did, or will, or can, expoſe any Chriſtian to, than what Chriſt himſelf was expoſed to; There is not a meaner ſervice, though honourable in its ſelf, there is not a meaner condition that any Chriſtian can be expoſed to: So that you may obſerve from hence the meaning of that expreſſion that he learned obedience, that is, he learned a Goſpel carriage by the things that he ſuffered, as you have it in the 5 Heb. 8. A Goſpel carriage, how, and to whom? truly, friends, a Goſpel carriage to the meaneſt and pooreſt of Goſpel Chriſtians. This is the advantage of all that I have ſaid in the opening of this, that the meaneſt Chriſtian may look upon Chriſt as once in a meaner condition than himſelf; and yet he may look upon Chriſt, notwithſtanding the meanneſs of his condition as to externals, p. 132as under a preſent ſenſe and an overruleing engagment to look after and alſo to receive them that are ſo mean.

2. The ſecond reaſon why the Lord will not ſuffer the leaſt grain, or the Chriſtian that hath the leaſt grace, to miſcarry, notwithſtanding all its ſhakings and ſiftings, though in the ſieve of the Nations, is, becauſe the Lord hath taken, under both Teſtaments, a peculiar and primary cognizance of thoſe that are leaſt in grace: there is none that lie nearer the Heart and Boſom of God and Chriſt, then thoſe that are new born. I ſhall open it in general, and then illuſtrate it in two particulars. In general, I will only turn you to one paſſage in the Prophecy of Iſaiah, in the 40. Chap. 11. v. There you have the Lord declaring his ſenſe, and Prophecying what ſhould be his Sons carriage to his People, he ſhall feed his flock like a Shepherd. Ay, but there are Lambs, and thoſe that are new faln Lambs, that are weak, that cannot go, that want cheriſhing, that they are falne in a ſtormy day, that is, as I conceive, Chriſtians begotten under Perſecution for Chriſtianity's ſake, young ones not in reſpect of their natural but their Spiritual Birth, what ſhall become of them. The flocks are better able to bear the buſle of the wind and p. 133weather and ſtormes, but what ſhall become of the lambs? Why, ſaies he, he ſhall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his Boſome, and ſhall gently lead thoſe that are with young, you ſhall find the like care expreſſed by our Lord after his reſurrection, John 21.15. v. and when they had dined Jeſus ſaid to Simon Peter, Simon Son of Jonas loveſt thou me more then theſe? He ſaith unto him, yea Lord thou knoweſt that I love thee, he doth not ſay if thou loveſt me, then go and die for me, then go and renounce thy forſwearing of me, he doth not ſay if thou loveſt me go and expoſe thy ſelf to all hazzards for my names ſake, but the firſt thing that he fixeth upon as the manifeſtation of his love to him is, the feeding of his lambs: As if the meaneſt and the weakeſt were more the care of Chriſt, and nearer the heart of Chriſt, than the ſheep, which afterwards he is commanded to feed; if thou loveſt me, feed my lambs. O Chriſtians, the great care and the great proviſion that is made in both Teſtaments, and the great injunctions that are laid upon thoſe that are concerned in the adminiſtration of both Teſtaments, is, to look after the meaneſt Chriſtians, which muſt needs diſcover this great truth, that the meaneſt Chriſtian, that is a Chriſtian indeed, ſhall not miſcarry, but I ſhall p. 134open this further to you in two branches

1. That the leaſt grace in the leaſt Chriſtian is the product of the greateſt grace that works in the Bleſſed Trinity. There is nothing in the leaſt Chriſtian, but the great and infinite grace of the Bleſſed Trinity concurred to the producing of it. This I would only illuſtrate to you by a paſſage of our Lord in Matth. 13. v. 31. where he compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a grain of muſtard ſeed, why what is the Kingdom of Heaven but the Adminiſtration of the Goſpel, according to the Eternal Counſels of God, that are paſt in Heaven? Now, ſaies he, The Kingdom of Heaven is as a grain of muſtard ſeed. Why but Lord, might they ſay, here is a grain that hath brought forth and ſpread abundantly, this is like the Kingdom of Heaven indeed; ay but ſaies he, the little grain though it be the leaſt of all grains, is a fit ſimilitude and compariſon for the Kingdom of Heaven; To what ſhall I liken the Kingdom of Heaven? The Kingdom of Heaven, ſaies he, is like a grain of muſtardſeed, which a man took and ſowed in his field: So that there is the whole reſemblance of the Kingdom of Heaven, even in a little grain, as ſoon as ever it is ſown, as much as when it is in its greateſt flouriſh, after its full growth, there is a real and a comprehenſive reſemblance p. 113of it in the leaſt ſeed of grace, that is ſown in thy heart, there is the Grace of the Kingdom manifeſted in thee; the Righteouſneſs of the Kingdom is manifeſted in thee; The offices of all perſons concerned in the Kingdom, they are all manifeſted in thee, Jeſus Chriſts mediation, and the Spirits Sanctification, and the Fathers Juſtification, theſe are all manifeſted upon the leaſt work of grace that is wrought in thee: I tell you, there is a ſubſtantial manifeſtation of all the bleſſedneſſes of the Kingdom of Heaven, in the leaſt work of grace that is wrought upon any Heart.

2. The leaſt work of grace, upon the Heart of the leaſt Chriſtian, is a manifeſtation, not only of the Kingdom of Heaven, but a real demonſtration of the Kingdom of Glory. A demonſtration á priori, as they call it, a demonſtration of that which is antecedent, or anantecedent demonſtration, of the Kingdom of Glory, as well as the greateſt flouriſhes of grace. I pray, Chriſtians, conſider, you that are young in grace, you have a demonſtration in you, an antecedent demonſtration of the Kingdom of Glory, I pray what is the Kingdom of Glory, but the flouriſh of that love, that I have now wrought in me, in the Kingdom of grace? It is the increaſe of my likeneſs to God, and to Jeſus Chriſt in Heaven, that is now begun in me, this p. 136is the Kingdom of Glory. Now this little work of grace is an antecedent demonſtration of an incomprehenſible weight of Glory that is to be put upon the People of God, when they come in Heaven, and this you may ſee evidenced in the parable, that I laſt mentioned, and in the other parables, that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt doth make uſe of.

3. A Third Propoſition is this, That the greateſt and dreadfulleſt threatnings are denounced againſt diſcouraging carriages towards thoſe that have leaſt grace, as well as towards thoſe that have greateſt: Nay let me alſo tell you this, that although they themſelves be under the tokens of Gods diſpleaſure, yet their Relation to God doth heightenthem, as aggravations of their enemies carriage towards them. I find not a greater threatning ever came out of the mouth of Chriſt Jeſus, when he was on Earth, then this, It were better, ſay's he, for that man that he had a Milſtone hanged about his neck, and he caſt into the midſt of the Sea, then he ſhould offend one of theſe little ones that believeth on me, he ſpeaks not of little ones as to nature, but of little ones as to grace. The deſign of the Jews was to lay ſtumbling blocks before the little ones, that is, thoſe that had a little p. 137love to Chriſt, thoſe that had a little Faith on Chriſt, thoſe whoſe hearts were engaged by that little fire of grace that was in them, to follow the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Says Chriſt, If any man doth offend one of theſe little ones, it were better for him that a Milſtone were hanged about his neck, and he caſt into the midſt of the Sea. But I ſhall open this likewiſe in theſe two branches.

1. Gods ſevereſt execution of threatnings takes its riſe from the adverſaries carriage towards the leaſt of thoſe that belong to him: As for inſtance, you know God threatned that he would have perpetual War with Amaleck, and why with Ameleck more then with Moab, or with Edom, or the other Nations that gave diſturbance to his People? you ſhall find the reaſon to be, becauſe they watched their opportunity, and ſmote the hinmoſt of the People; they did not march upon the front of the People, but they watched their advantage, and they ſmote the hinmoſt, and feebleſt of the People, therefore, ſays God, I will have perpetual War with Amaleck: and this lay as it were reſerved in the Boſom of God, till the firſt King that ever appeared upon the Throne of Iſrael. Saul was not commanded to rally his Forces and go againſt Egypt, that Old Enemy, that Old Oppreſſor, nor p. 138againſt Moab, and thoſe that inveigled them, and inticed them in the matter of Baal Peor, but go, ſays God to Saul, and utterly deſtroy Amalek, 1 Sam. 15. from off the face of the Earth. And Saul he did ſpare none but poor King Agag, and God was ſo incenſed againſt him, that he ſent Samuel his Prophet to him, to tell him, that God had rent the Kingdom of Iſrael from him, at the 28. v. becauſe he did not execute the fierceneſs of his wrath againſt Amalek, for ſmiting the hindmoſt of the People, and thoſe that were feeble amongſt them, as they came out of Egypt. And truly, Friends, this is the deſign, and hath been all along the deſign of your ſpiritual adverſaries, they ſeldom march upon the Front, but in the Spirit of Amalek, they wait for their advantage upon thoſe that are weak and feeble: And for my part I do think, that this will be one of the greateſt aggravations of the ſin of the Devils, that they have Tempted the little ones that have followed Jeſus Chriſt. I pray take notice of another paſſage, concerning the poor and weak condition, the people of Iſrael were in, the time of Obadiah; you ſhall find in that Prophecy that the Aſſyrians came upon them, and makes a ſquander among the People, and here p. 139were two or three, and there was another two or three, or it may be more in a company, that skulkt away, from his force and cruelty, into by ways and by places, endeavouring to ſhift for themſelves, and ſave their lives. I pray do but obſerve now how the Lord comes upon Edom, that was the Off-ſpring of Eſau, Jacobs Brother, in the 10. v. of that prophecy, for thy violence againſt thy Brother Jacob, ſhame hath covered thee, and thou ſhalt be cut off for ever. Lord, might Edom ſay, didſt not thou ſay, thou wouldſt utterly deſtroy this People from the Earth? and I will hiſs for the Aſſyrian, and, Lord, haſt thou not ſaid that Aſſyria is the rod of thine anger in thy hand? well, my Friends, notwithſtanding all that could be objected in a way of reaſon, ſee how God treats with Edom, v. 1.4. neither ſhouldſt thou have ſtood in the croſs way, to cut off thoſe of his that did eſcape, &c. This I only produce to diſcover to you the ſeverity of Gods threatning againſt thoſe, that offer diſturbance and diſcouragement to his People in their weakeſt capacities and conditions: The like you may obſerve in the Revelations, and in the other paſſages of the New Teſtament, but I will not any further proceed upon that, ſo that you ſee I have opened a p. 140further reaſon of the Lords ſpecial care, and tender regard, that he hath over his own People.

4. The greateſt promiſes lay hold upon thoſe that are in the meaneſt condition, upon thoſe that are in the pooreſt, weakeſt, unlikelieſt condition: Be not diſcouraged, Chriſtian, at the unlikelineſs that is upon thy Soul, as to the grouth of grace, though your grace be little, and your diſcouragements great, yet let me tell you, there are greater promiſes in the word, proportionally conſidered, made to you, than to others. I pray obſerve what the Pſalmiſt ſay's, in the 72. Pſa. 16. v. There ſhall be a handful of Corn in the Earth, upon the top of the Mountain, the fruit thereof ſhall ſhake like Lebanon, and they of the City ſhall flouriſh like the Graſs of the Earth, They are, in a proſperous condition, ſhall flouriſh like the Graſs of the Earth; thoſe that proſper in ſeculars or in temporals, they ſhall not loſe their bleſſing, but ſhall flouriſh like the Graſs of the Earth, but, ſays he, there ſhall be at that time, when theſe things ſhall be, there ſhall be a People that ſhall be caſt into the World, as a handful of Corn that is caſt upon the top of the Mountain; alas, what can you expect from a handful of Corn, that is caſt upon the top of a mountain, but that it p. 141ſhould be withered and dried up? why? becauſe there want Earth and Soil to nouriſh it, and the ſpirit of the Earth to maintain it; therefore it cannot be expected, that it ſhould come to any maturity. Yet, ſays the Lord, when they of the City ſhall flouriſh like the Graſs, then the handful of Corn that is upon the top of the Mountain, (that is expoſed to wind and weather) the fruit thereof ſhall ſhake like Lebanon, they ſhall grow like the Cedars in Lebanon; ſo that you ſee, my Friends, thoſe that are unlikely, thoſe that are meaneſt, that are but as a handful of Corn caſt upon the Mountains, yet I tell you, you are under as great a promiſe, as any under their greateſt external flouriſhing, they of the City ſhall flouriſh, as the Graſs of the Earth, but thoſe that are caſt upon the Mountain ſhall ſhake like Lebanon.

Appl. And there are three Inferences, that I ſhall deſire to manage, and ſo conclude; the firſt ſhall be in relation to thoſe that are the leaſt Chriſtians, the ſecond, ſhall have relation to thoſe of a bigger ſize, and the third Inference ſhall have relation to thoſe that are neither great nor little Chriſtians, but no Chriſtians at all.

ƲSE. 1 to thoſe that are leaſt, they are grains, but they are the leaſt grain; my p. 142meaning plainly is this, and I think it is the meaning of the Holy Ghoſt; thoſe that have leaſt grace, and thoſe that have leaſt gifts, & thoſe that have done leaſt for God, and thoſe that have enjoyed leaſt of God, thoſe that have obſerved leaſt of Gods goings in his Sanctuary, that have experienced leaſt of Gods workings upon their Spirits; my deſign, Chriſtians, is principally upon you and therfore I ſhall ſay three or four things particularly to you, and the firſt is this, be not diſcouraged at your littleneſs of grace, if there be but truth of grace: There were many when the ſecond Temple was built, and they ſaw it did not amount to the glory of the firſt Temple, they fell a weeping, and were greatly diſcouraged, and God was fain to raiſe them up a Prophet on purpoſe to bear up their ſpirits. O there was not that Gold, there was not that outward Glory and Splendor, that there was upon the firſt Temple that was deſtroyed! and God raiſed them up a Prophet, and what ſays the Prophet to them, ſays he, You ſaw the Glory of the former Temple, and I tell you, ſays he, that the Glory of the latter Temple ſhall be greater than the Glory of the former: They were diſcouraged at the plainneſs, and meanneſs of the building, and of the furniture, and adorning of p. 143the Temple; nay, ſays God, if that be the thing, do not trouble your ſelves about it. So I ſay, my Friends, you may take an eſtimate of others Hearts, and compare others Hearts with yours, and you fall a murmuring, and diſcouragement ſeizes upon you, nay but let me ſay to you, in the name of the Lord, if there be but a little grace, be not diſcouraged at the littleneſs of it; you have reaſon to be humbled, that it is no more, that is very true, but yet you have no reaſon to be diſcouraged, becauſe there is a little, and the Lord hath commanded me to tell you, that it lay in his power, and within the reach of his grace, to make the glory of that little grace, that is in your Heart, far exceed the Glory of that great deal, that you obſerve to break forth in the Hearts of others, and therefore be not diſcouraged. I ſhall urge this under theſe two conſiderations.

1. Thou ſeeſt it may be what is in thy heart, but thou doeſt not know what is in Chriſts hand for thy heart. Thou ſeeſt what comes out of Chriſts hand to thy heart, but thou doeſt not ſee what remains in Chriſts hand for thee, therefore be not diſcouraged becauſe it is little. I pray do but obſerve a paſſage in Zach. 12.8. In that day ſhall the Lord defend the inhabitants p. 144of Jeruſalem: And he that is feeble among them (That is he that hath little Courage, little ſpirit, little ſtrength; the word ſignifies he that is ſo feeble that he is faln amongſt them faln among the Croud, by reaſon of his feebleneſs, he that is feeble among them,) At that day, ſhall be as David, and the houſe of David ſhall be as God, as the Angel of the Lord before them. Now, Chriſtian, I pray what is the diſcouragement that lieth upon thee? thou ſayeſt thou art feeble and thou art weak and thou art poor & thou art empty, thy heart is empty, & thy head empty, and thy affections empty, thy prayers are empty, & thy converſation empty; all this is true & God knows it is true & whence comes all this? O thou art fallen in the ſtreets by reaſon of the feebleneſs of thy grace, and the weakneſs that doth attend thy duties, thou canſt hardly ſet a ſtep but thou falleſt, thou goeſt ſtumbling and ſtambling on to Heaven, and thou haſt not ſtrength enough ſcarce to go through any diſcouragement: Well, friend, though it be thus with thee, yet conſider here is the word of the Lord for thy encouragement, The feeble amongſt them ſhall be as David. And I pray in whoſe hand is the cuſtody or keeping of the Bleſſing that is wrapt up in this promiſe? Is it not in the hand of Chriſt? All this courage and all this ſtrength p. 145and all theſe parts and all this grace that muſt make thee like David, A man after Gods own heart to fulfil actually all his will, all this is in the hands of Chriſt: And the feeble ſhall be as David. And therefore I pray, Sirs, though you ſee but little in your own hearts, yet be not diſcouraged, you do not ſee all that is in the heart and hand of Chriſt for you. That is the firſt.

2. You complain of your feebleneſs and littleneſs; alas, you are as Corn that is dwindled up, as we ſay: the leaſt of grains. Ay but conſider, there is the ſeminal vertue of more in you: That little grace that is in you hath a ſeminal vertue in it, God knoweth, ſaith the Apoſtle, who are his: Thoſe that are born of God, that have the ſeed of God in them God knows them. So that though thou doeſt not know, by reaſon of thy littleneſs, what thou art, yet God knows notwithſtanding thy littleneſs what thou art; he knows that there is a ſeed of grace in thee, and therefore I ſay be not diſcouraged.

2. Secondly, Is it ſo that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will look after his little ones and will not ſuffer the leaſt grain to fall upon the Earth. Then be you putting forth a little though it be but a little. Thou complaineſt p. 146thou art but little; truly I am affraid that many mens complaints are attended with as much formality as ever the Scribes and Phariſees Religion was. Now I ſay if it be but a little, thou haſt reaſon the more to be putting forth that little: And let me tell you Jeſus Chriſt doth expect that you ſhould be putting forth your little, that it may appear that you are wheat indeed, that you are Chriſtians indeed, And though you cannot do ſo much as another doth, yet I beſeech you conſider, if you be but a grain you may do more than others, that are behind you, that have not the leaſt grain of grace wrought in them, you may do more than they do. I will urge this with two conſiderations.

1. The firſt is this. A little improvement made by us goeth a great way with God; A little Goſpel improvement made of a little on Earth goes a great way in Heaven: And let me tell you this alſo further, that there are no bounds that can poſſibly be ſuppoſed to be preſcribed to the acceptance, and to the reward, of the improvment of a little grace. You know not, my friends, but a weak one may become a Nation, and a feeble one may be multiplyed, by the Bleſſing of God; into many Nations; you know not how God may bleſs a little p. 147improvement. Therefore my exhortation to you is, to ſtir up your ſelves to be putting forth ſomething; if you have but a little faith let it appear that you have a little; and if you hauehave but a little love to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to his perſon and Offices, let that little appear, Sirs: and though it do appear but little on earth yet, let me tell you, it will go a great way in Heaven. You may obſerve this, by that poor Woman that had but one poor mite to caſt into the treaſury; and Jeſus Chriſt ſat at the door obſerving how rich men came, and caſt into the treaſury of the Houſe of the Lord a great deal, and this poor Woman comes, that had but one mite, & ſhe caſt in all that ſhe had. I pray obſerve how far this goes with Chriſt; Chriſt could not forbear but calls his diſciples to him & ſaith, Verily I ſay unto you this Woman hath caſt in more than they all. Why, my friends, if you have but a mite, caſt it in, though you can but ſigh or groan, though you can do but little, yet do a little for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, do a little for him in your hearts, do a little for him in your families amongſt yours Children and Servants: It may be you have but little to be doing withal, I pray be doing ſomething with your little: It is for the Lord Chriſt, you know not how far in p. 148Heaven a little that is done on Earth may go.

2. Hath the Lord taken ſuch cae to preſerve his little ones, though they be the leaſt grains, and that, in all the Commontions and Revolutions of affairs, when God is ſifting his people in the ſieve of the Nations, that he knows do hate them wh… perfect hatred? then methinks, This ſhould ſpeak encouragement unto the little ones not only to put forth a little for Chriſt, but this alſo ſhould lay an engagment upon them to be willing to ſuffer any thing, rather than to part with the care and protection of God and Chriſt. You have a little, Sirs, well here ſtands the caſe; will you part with and for go that God and that Chriſt, that have the care and the charge of your little grace, or will you ſtick to him? Methings you ſhould be willing to ſuffer a little for Chriſt, rather than to part with that great ſecurity that is betruſted with Chriſt for you. The apoſtle had but little of the world, yet he met with great ſufferings; it may be you have but little grace in the world, and God calls you to little ſufferings, in compariſon with thoſe thut are truly and formally great ſufferings; Why now, Sirs, I pray be willing to part with ſomething for the ſake of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſuffer the loſs of ſomething. I do not ſpeak as to temporalls, but I ſpeak as p. 149to thoſe things that your hearts are moſt addicted too ſuffer the loſs of ſomething: You ſee a little grace hath a deal of care; taken about it. I pray, Chriſtians, if there be any thing in you that is ſinful do you part with it, do not only ſuffer the loſs of a little, but ſuffer the loſs of your All that is offenſive to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; becauſe the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath ſaid that, notwithſtanding all your ſufferings, he will look after that little grace that is in you.

USE. 2 There are ſome that are grains of a bigger, that are of a greater ſize in Chriſtianity, I pray do not you deſpiſe thoſe that are leſs, but encourage their growth to a greater degree; do not deſpiſe them, becauſe they are little: This is a great evil amongſt Chriſtians, and I tell you of it in the name of the Lord, it is an evil, and a very great evil, even amongſt old profeſſors, that they are apt and ready to deſpiſe thoſe that are young. And men of great attainments, that think their heads are full, and I could wiſh their Hearts were fuller than their heads, there are many that have full heads, but God knows have very empty Hearts, but I ſay, Chriſtians, I beſeech you in the Lord, and by the Lord, that you would carry it as becomes you, towards thoſe that are little, thoſe that p. 150have but a little grace, do what in you ly's to increaſe that little, to cheriſh that little. I ſhould urge this with diverſe conſiderations, I will only ſay this, Chriſtians, the encreaſe of their little will be alſo your encreaſe, their bleſſing will be your bleſſing, as you are members of the whole; It may be you have a great deal of grace, but let me tell you, ſuppoſe you have, God may make them very uſeful to you, and more uſeful than thoſe that have more grace were ever made to you: It may be there are two Chriſtians come together, men that do pretend to a great deal of grace, they fall into diſcourſe together, and what is the ſubject of their diſcourſe? alas it may be, it is nothing that doth concern the mutual advance of grace in each other; but there comes a poor Chriſtian, that hath but little, and he falls of inquiring, O how ſhall I get more grace? and diſcovers an earneſtneſs and zeal of ſpirit after more grace; and many other things of this nature might be urged, I will but only add this: I pray, Chriſtians, you that have a great deal of grace, how came you by that great deal? was it not all by grace? did not other Chriſtians help you? did they diſcourage you? did they caſt ſtumbling blocks of iniquity before your p. 151face? did they receive you to doubtful diſputations? No, no, they were ready to cheriſh and encourage you, and ſo God gave the encreaſe. But this is that that I would have you to take along with you, that their little may be better than your great deal, if they improve their little, better then you do your great deal, and it may be true in this ſenſe, that they that have leaſt may have moſt, and they that are laſt may come to be firſt: and therefore, Chriſtians, you that think you have a great deal, ſee that you carry it as becomes you, to thoſe that have but little.

USE, 3 I would ſpeak ſomething to thoſe that are neither great nor little Chriſtians, thoſe that have no grace at all, neither more nor leſs, I have three words to ſay to you, 1. Suppoſe, that the Lord ſhould now begin this ſifting work among you, I pray what promiſe have you to ſecure you? For ought I know, you may be ſifted out of the ſieve, the Tempeſt may come, and blow you with the Chaff into unquencheable fire: therefore, I beſeech you, conſider, there are ten thouſand times ten thouſand that have been baptized in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghoſt, that are damned in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghoſt, and for ought I know this p. 152may be your caſe ere long, if you do not look after a little grace, to get it in due time. I pray, Sirs, conſider with your ſelves, what ſecurity you have, in caſe there ſhould be ſuch a diſpenſation, as is here threatned? that God ſhould ſift you, and it may be Satan may have liberty to raiſe the wind, whilſt God is ſifting in the ſieve of the Nations, what will become of the Chaff? Chriſt tells you, that he will come, ay, he will come, but it is in another ſenſe to you, he will come, and will throughly purge his floor with his Fann, and the Wheat he will gather into his garner, but the Chaff ſhall be burned with unquencheable fire. I pray, Sirs, do but conſider this one thing, is it not better for you to have a promiſe of ſecurity now, than to defer it, upon hopes, that you may have it hereafter? the promiſe reaches to the leaſt of the grains, and no further; and I have no commiſſion to ſay any further to you, by way of ſecurity. But then,

2. Is it ſo that there is ſuch a promiſe made to the leaſt grain, why, let me tell you, the promiſe of ſecurity, lay's open to you: though for the preſent, as you are ſinners, and while you are ſo, I cannot ſay that the promiſe doth reach you. Yet notwithſtanding you are ſo, I may tell you the promiſe is p. 153open to you, and let me further tell you, that the Heart of the Trinity, doth concur with the promiſe, and doth ſtand open to receive you: What think you of this, ſinners? the promiſes of Sanctification are open, the promiſes of Salvation by grace are open to you. Though I cannot ſay, that to day thou art within the reach of the promiſes, yet if I could ſay that, before to morrow, thou haſt received grace, though but as a grain of muſtard ſeed; to morrow I could ſay, and ſay it in the name of the Lord, come what will come, God and Chriſt will look after this Soul. Is it not better for you then to day, whilſt it is called to day, to open your Hearts for Chriſt, and for the Spirit of Chriſt, and to get a little grace, though never ſo little, to day whilſt it is called to day; O Sinners! get a little grace, and be content to begin with a little: It is a little grace that will bring you within the reach of the promiſe. Do not ſay within your ſelves, then belike you think, we have no grace at all; why truly, if you be ſinners, I ſay you have not grace, not ſo much as a grain of muſtard ſeed, and I ſay, you are not yet within the reach of the promiſe; but I ſay if you get but a little grace, though never ſo little, that you may but be truly called a grain, p. 154then I may ſee, though it be never ſo little, yet the greateſt promiſes of protection are made to you, and you are the Perſons, that are concerned in this promiſe.

3. The third thing that I would ſay to you that are no Grains, that have no grace at all, is this, I pray do but conſider with your ſelves when God, and Chriſt, and the Spirit come to paſs judgment and to give in evidence againſt you, what will you be able to anſwer? What will you ſay that grace was never offered to you? I muſt be forced to appear, and all the Miniſters that ever you have heard, and that have tendered the grace of Jeſus Chriſt, and Chriſt with all his fulneſs to you; all our Sermons and we, ſhall be brought in as evidences againſt you. Can you bear this? You that have heard us with delight, and have ſeemed to take pleaſure in what we have ſpoken and preached to you; what think you now to have us; one after another with all the Sermons that have been preached in your hearing, to be brought in as an evidence againſt you? And not only ſo but for God to come in againſt you, and ſay I offered you grace; and for Chriſt to ſay I offered you my blood; and the Spirit to ſay I ſtrove with you to work a work o… grace in you; I beſeech you, ſirs, conſider▪ … do not ſpeak theſe things to ſpend time, bu… p. 155this is that my Soul longs after that I might perſwade every ſinner to become a ſaint, & thatevery one that hath gotten a littlegrace, might make it his buſineſs to get more grace; For, ſinners, you can never have grace too ſoon, and, Saints, you can never have grace too much. I ſhall only urge all that I have ſaid with theſe 2 things.

Firſt. If, ſinners, you will now come in and cloſe with Chriſt to day, while it is called to day, (Be you young or old I value it not, be you what you will be, whatſoever your condition be,) As ſoon as ever you come in, and get the leaſt grace, all the Trinity that is concerned in the promiſe will, according to their reſpective Relations, purſue the deſign and intendment of the promiſe upon you and for you, in all the ſucceeding circumſtances of your lives. Why is not this a thing that is deſirable? It may be a wicked man may make a promiſe to thee, thou art his Child and he a wicked Father, if thou wilt not do ſo and ſo, he will not do this and that for thee: Why I pray now, is it not better for you to have the promiſe of one God for good, and to be in the reach of one of the promiſes of the bleſſed Trinity, than to be incompaſſed and invironed with all the promiſes of them that are enemies to God, and alſo to you for Gods ſake. Here now p. 156is a promiſe, yet ſhall not the leaſt Grain fall to the Earth when God ſifts, the Nations; I pray ballance this with all the promiſes of the Word when God comes a ſifting either by Temptation or Perſecution or afflictions; when God comes a ſifting, I pray who can keep you in the Sieve? Who can keep you out of Hell? can all your rich friends and great friends, can all the powers of the World, keep you out of everlaſting burnings? No, It is only God can do it, yet ſhall not the leaſt Grain fall upon the Earth. For my part I think that one promiſe made by the Bleſſed God is better then to have a thouſand promiſes (though they were in a capacity to fulfil them) made by the greateſt Powers in the the World.

2. The laſt thing that I ſhall leave upon you is this, That the ſooner you cloſe with Chriſt the ſooner you will be ſafe; The ſooner you get grace the ſooner you will have the ſecurity of grace. Great are the diſtractions of the minds of men under various apprehenſions of approaching dangers; and, my friends; in a time and hour wherein the Lord ſays come, Chriſt ſays come and the Spirit ſays come and the Goſpel ſays come, and Miniſters ſay come, why do not you come? Sirs, to day, while it is called to p. 157day. For my part, I think it is never too ſoon for a Soul to be ſafe for ever from everlaſting burnings, and therefore if you do believe the things that I have delivered, you that are Saints of a little attainment, carry it as becomes you; You that are Saints of a greater attainment carry it as becomes you; and you that have attained no grace at all carry it as becomes you. And this is that that becomes you, To come unto Jeſus Chriſt, and be reſtleſs till the Lord make you one of his graines though never ſo little.