QUEST. 3. Whence is it that true grace it, and crowned Abraham with this honour, cannot but grow? to be the father of the faithful.' ANS. 1. It is proper for grace to grow: it is semen manens, the seed of God, 1 John. iii. 9. It is the nature of seed to grow; grace doth not lie in the heart, as a stone in the earth, but as seed in the earth, which will spring up, first the blade and then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. A. 2. Grace cannot but grow, from the sweetness and excellency of it; he that hath grace, is never weary of it, but still would have more. The delight he hath in it, causeth thirst; grace is the image of God, and a Christian thinks he can never be enough like God. Grace instills peace; therefore a Christian cannot but strive to increase in grace, because, as grace grows, so peace grows. A. 3. Grace cannot but grow, from a believer's ingrafting into Christ; he who is a scion, ingrafted into this noble, generous stock, cannot but grow. Christ is so full of sap, and vivifical influence, that he makes all inoculated into him grow fruitful, Hos. xiv. 8, "From me is thy fruit found." QUEST. 4. What motives or incentives are there to make us grow in grace? ANS. 1. Growth is the end of the ordinances. Why doth a man lay out cost on ground, manure and water it, but that it may grow? The sincere milk of the word is given, that we may grow thereby, 1 Pet. ii. 2. The table of the Lord is on purpose for our spiritual nourishment and increase of grace. A.2. The growth of grace is the best evidence of the truth of it. Things that have no life will not grow; a picture will not grow, a stake in the hedge will not grow, but a plant that hath a vegetative life grows. The growing of grace shows it to be alive in the soul. A. 3. Growth in grace is the beauty of a Christian. The more a child grows, the more it comes to its favour and complexion, and looks more ruddy; so, the more a Christian grows in grace, the more he comes to his spiritual complexion, he looks fairer. Abraham's faith was beautiful when in its infancy, but at last it grew so vigorous and eminent, that God himself was in love with A. 4. The more we grow in grace, the more glory we bring to God. God's glory is more worth than the salvation of all men's souls. This should be our design, to raise the trophies of God's glory; and how can we do it more, than by growing in grace? John xv. 8, "Hereby is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." Though the least drachm of grace will bring salvation to us, yet it will not bring so much glory to God, Phil. i. 11, " Filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are to the praise of his glory." It commends the skill of the husbandman, when his plants grow and thrive; it is a praise and honour to God, when we thrive in grace. A. 5. The more we grow in grace, the more will God love us. Is it not that we pray for? The more growth, the more God will love us. The husbandman loves his thriving plants; the thriving Christian is God's Hephzibah, or chief delight. Christ loves to see the vine flourishing, and the pomegranates budding, Cant. vi. 11. Christ accepts the truth of grace, but commends the growth of grace, Matt. viii. 10, "I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel." Would you be as the beloved disciple that lay in Christ's bosom? Would you have much love from Christ? labour for much growth, let faith flourish with good works, and love increase into zeal. A. 6. What need have we to grow in grace. There is still something lacking in our faith, 1 Thess. iii. 10. Grace is but in its infancy and minority, and we must still be adding a cubit to our spiritual stature; the apostles said, "Lord increase our faith," Luke xvii. 5. Grace is but weak, 2 Sam. iii. 39, "I am this day weak, though anointed king." So, though we are anointed with grace, yet we are but weak, and had need arrive at further degrees of sanctity. A. 7. The growth of grace will hinder the growth of corruption. The more health grows, the more the distempers of the body abate; so it is in spirituals, the more bu mility grows, the more the swelling of pride is assuaged, the more purity of heart grows, the more the fire of lust is abated. The growth of flowers in the garden doth not ciple. Some, instead of growing better, hinder the growing of weeds, but the grow-grow worse; they grow more earthly, more ing of this flower of grace hinders the sprout-profane, 2 Tim. iii. 13. Evil men proficient ing of corruption. As some plants have an antipathy, and will not thrive if they grow near together, as the vine and the bay tree: so, where grace grows, sin will not thrive so fast. A. 8. We cannot grow too much in grace: there is no nimium,— -no excess there. The body may grow too great, as in the dropsy; but faith cannot grow too great, 2 Thess. i. 3, "Your faith groweth exceedingly ;" here was exceeding, yet not excess. As a man cannot have too much health, so not too much grace. Grace is the beauty of holiness, Ps. cx. 3. We cannot have too much spiritual beauty; it will be the only trouble at death, that we have grown no more in grace. A. 9. Such as do not grow in grace, decay in grace. Non progredi in via est regredi, BERN. There is no standing at a stay in religion, either we go forward or backward; if faith do not grow, unbelief will; if heavenly mindedness doth not grow, covetousness will. A man that doth not increase his stock, diminisheth it; if you do not improve your stock of grace, your stock will decay. The angels on Jacob's ladder were either ascending or descending; if you do not ascend in religion, you descend. A. 10. The more we grow in grace, the more we shall flourish in glory. Though every vessel of glory shall be full, yet some vessels hold more; he whose pound gained ten, was made ruler over ten cities, Luke xix. 17. Such as do not grow much, though they do not lose their glory, yet they lessen their glory. If any shall follow the Lamb in whiter and larger robes of glory than others, they shall be such as have shone most in grace here. in pejus,' shall wax worse and worse.' Many grow hellward,-they grow past shame, Eph. ii. 3, 5,-they are like some watered stuffs, which grow more rotten. QUEST. 5. How shall we know whether we grow in grace? ANS. For the deciding of this question, I shall, First, Show the signs of our not growing; Secondly, Of our growing. 1st. The signs of our not growing in grace, but rather falling into a spiritual consumption. Sign 1. When we have lost our spiritual appetite. A consumptive person hath not that stomach to his meat as formerly. Perhaps, Christian, thou canst remember the time when thou didst hunger and thirst after righteousness, thou didst come to the ordinances with such a stomach as to a feast, but now it is otherwise, Christ is not so prized, nor his ordinances so loved: a sad presage, grace is on the declining hand,— thou art in a deep consumption. A sign David was near his grave, when he covered him with clothes, and got no heat, 1 Kings i. 1: so, when a person is plied with hot clothes, I mean ordinances, yet he hath no heat of affection to spiritual things, this is a sign he is declining in grace. - Sign 2. When we grow more worldly. Perhaps once we were mounted into higher orbs, we did set our hearts on things above, and speak the language of Canaan,-but now our minds are taken off heaven, we dig our comfort out of these lower mines, and with Satan compass the earth: a sign we are going down the hill apace, and our grace is in a consumption. It is observable when nature decays, and people are near dying, they grow more stooping: and truly, when men's hearts grow more stooping to the earth, and they can hardly lift up themselves Use. Lament we may the want of growth: religion in many is grown only into a form and profession; this is to grow in leaves, not in fruit. Many Christians are like a body into a heavenly thought, if grace be not dead, atrophy, which doth not thrive; they are not nourished by the sermons they hear; like the angels who assumed bodies, they did eat, but did not grow. It is very suspicious where there is no growth, there wants a vital prin-weep: but now we can digest sin without yet it is ready to die, Rev. iii. 2. Sign 3. When we are less troubled about sin. Time was when the least sin did grieve us, as the least hair makes the eye remorse. Time was when a Christian was troubled if he neglected closet-prayer: now he can omit family-prayer. Time was when vain thoughts did trouble him: now he is not troubled for loose practices. Here is a sad declension in religion; and truly grace is so far from growing, that we can hardly perceive its pulse to beat. by the opposition of the high priest and the rulers, Acts iv. 8, 11. The martyrs' zeal was increased by persecution. Here was grace of the first magnitude. QUEST. 6. What shall we do to grow in grace? ANS. 1. Take heed of that which will hinder its growth,-the love of any sin. The body may as well thrive in a fever, as grace can when any sin is cherished. A. 2. Use all means for growth in grace. 1st, "Exercise yourselves to godliness," 1 Tim. iv. 7. The body grows stronger by exercise. Trading of money makes men grow rich; the more we trade our faith in the pro you would be growing Christians, be humble 2dly. The signs of our growing in grace. Sign 1. The first sign of our growing is when we are got beyond our former measures of grace: a sign a child thrives, when he hath outgrown his clothes, his clothes are too little for him. That knowledge which would serve us before, will not serve us now, -we have a deeper insight into religion,-mises, the richer in faith we grow. 2dly, If our light is clearer,-our spark of love is increased into a flame: there is a sign of growth. That competency of grace we once had, is too scanty for us; we have outgrown ourselves. Sign 2. When we are more firmly rooted in religion, Col. ii. 7, Rooted in him, and established: the spreading of the root shows the growth of the tree. When we are so strongly fastened on Christ, that we cannot be blown down with the breath of heretics, a blessed sign of growth. Athanasius was called Adamus ecclesiæ, an adamant that could not be removed from the love of the truth. Sign 3. The third sign of growth: when we have a more spiritual frame of heart. 1st, We are more spiritual in our principles; we oppose sin out of love to God, and as it strikes at his holiness. 2dly, We are more spiritual in our affections; we grieve for the first rising of corruption, for the bubbling up of vain thoughts, the spring that runs under ANS. They may mistake; they may grow, ground. We mourn not only for the penalty when they think they do not, Prov. xiii. 7, of sin, but the pollution; it is not only a coal "There is that maketh himself poor, yet that burns, but blacks. 3dly, We are spiri- he is rich." The sight Christians have of tual in the performance of duty; we are more their defects in grace, and their thirst after serious, reverent, fervent; we have more life greater measures of grace, makes them think in prayer, we put fire to the sacrifice, Rom. they do not grow when they do. He who xii. "Fervent in spirit." We serve God covets a great estate, because he hath not with more love, which ripens and mellows so much as he desires, therefore he thinks Indeed Christians our duty, and makes it come off with a bet-himself to be poor. ter relish. Sign 4. The fourth sign of growth: when grace gets ground by opposition. The fire, by an antiperistasis, burns hottest in the coldest season. Peter's courage increased QUEST. 7. How may we comfort such as complain they do not grow in grace? should seek after the grace they want, but they must not therefore overlook the grace they have. Let Christians be thankful for the least growth; if you do not grow so much in assurance, bless God if you grow in sincerity; if you do not grow so much a true growth; if you grow in the rootin knowledge, bless God if you grow in grace of humility, it is as needful for you as humility. If a tree grows in the root, it is any other growth. OF PERSEVERANCE. 1 PET. i. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. 66 Strengthen the things which are ready to die." Grace may be like fire in the embers: though not quenched, yet the flame is gone out. This decay of grace I shall show in two particulars. 1. The lively actings of grace may be suspended, Rev. ii. 4, "Thou hast left thy first love." Grace may be like a sleepy habit; the godly may act faintly in religion, THE fifth and last fruit of sanctification is and they may make a great breach upon their perseverance in grace. The heavenly in- sanctification. Grace may be moritura, non heritance is kept for the saints, 1 Pet. i. 4; mortua,- dying, but not dead,' Rev. iii. 2, and they are kept to the inheritance; in my text, "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." The apostle asserts a saint's stability and permanency in grace. The saints' perseverance is much oppugned by Papists and Arminians; but it is not the less true because it is opposed. A Christian's main comfort depends upon this doctrine of perseverance; take away this, and you much prejudice religion, and cut the sinews of all cheerful endeavours. Before I come to the full handling and discussing this great point, let me first clear the sense of it, which I shall do by way of concession or grant. When I say, believers do persevere : 1st, I grant that such as are so only in profession, may fall away, 2 Tim. iv. 10, "Demas hath forsaken me." Blazing comets soon evaporate. A building on sand will fall, Mat. vii. 26, Seeming grace may be lost. No wonder to see a bough fall from a tree that is only tied on! Hypocrites are only tied on Christ by an external profession, they are not ingrafted. Who ever thought artificial motions would hold long? The hypocrite's motion is only artificial, not vital. All blossoms do not ripen into fruit. 2dly, I grant that, if believers were left to stand upon their own legs, they might fall finally. Some of the angels, who were stars full of light and glory, yet did actually lose their grace; and if those pure angels fell from grace, much more would the godly, who have so much sin to betray them, if they were not upheld by a superior power. 3dly, I grant, true believers, though they do not fall away actually, and lose all their grace, yet their grace may fail in the degree, the pulse of their affections may beat low. The wise virgins slumbered, Mat. xxv.5. The exercise of grace may be hindered; as when the course of water is stopped, and doth not run. 2. Instead of grace exercising in the godly, corruption may exercise,—instead of patience, murmuring,-instead of heavenliness, earthliness. How did pride put forth itself in the disciples when they strove who should be the greatest! How did lust put forth itself in David! Thus lively and vigorous may corruption be in the regenerate; they may fall into enormous sins. But though all this be granted, yet they do not, penitus exeidere,— fall away finally from grace. David did not quite lose his grace; for then, why did he pray, "Take not away thy Holy Spirit from me?" He had not quite lost the Spirit. As Eutychus, when he fell from a window, Acts xx., and all thought he was dead: No, saith Paul, "his life is in him." So David fell foully, but there was the life of grace in him. Though the saints may come to that pass, they have but little faith, yet not to have no faith; though their grace may be drawn low, yet not drawn dry; though grace may be abated, not abolished; though the wise virgins slumbered, yet their lamps were not quite gone out. Grace, when it is at the lowest, shall revive and flourish; as when Samson had lost his strength, his hair grew again, and he renewed his strength. Having thus explained the proposition, I come now to the amplifying this great doctrine of the saints' perseverance. QUEST. 1. By what means do Christians come to persevere? Conserva illos,-Father, "keep those whom thou hast given me,"-keep them as the stars in their orbs,-keep them as jewels, that they may not be lost. "Father keep them." That prayer Christ made for Peter, was the copy of his prayer he now makes for believers, Luke xxii. 32, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not," that it be not totally eclipsed; how can the children of such prayers perish? QUEST. 2. By what arguments may we prove the saints' perseverance? ANS. 1. A veritate Dei,-'from the truth of God.' God hath both asserted it, and promised it: 1. God hath asserted it, 1 John ii. 9, "His seed remaineth in him." 1 John ii, 27, "The anointing ye have received of him abideth in you."-2. As God hath asserted it, so he hath promised it: the truth of God, the most orient pearl of his crown, is laid a pawn in the promise, John x. 28, "I will ANS. 1. By the manuduction and help of ordinances, prayer, word, sacraments. Christians do not arrive at perseverance when they sit still and do nothing. It is not with us as with passengers in a ship, who are carried to the end of their voyage, and they sit still in the ship; or, as it is with noblemen, who have their rents brought in without their toil or labour; but we arrive at salvation in the use of means,-as a man comes to the end of a race by running,-to a victory by fighting, Matt. xxvi. 41, "Watch and pray." As Paul said, Acts xxvii. 31, "Except ye abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved." Be-give unto them eternal life, and they shall lievers shall come to shore at last,-arrive at never perish." Jer. xxxii. 40, "I will make heaven; but "except they abide in the ship," an everlasting covenant with them, that I viz. in the use of ordinances, "they cannot will not turn away from them to do them be saved." The ordinances cherish grace; good, but I will put my fear in their hearts, as they beget grace, so they are the breast- that they shall not depart from me." God milk by which it is nourished and preserved will so love his people that he will not forto eternity. sake them; and they shall so fear him, that A. 2. Auxilio spiritus,-by the sacred in-they shall not forsake him. If a believer fluence and concurrence of the Spirit. The should not persevere, God should break his Spirit of God is continually at work in the promise, Hos. ii. 19, "I will betroth thee heart of a believer to carry on grace to per- unto me for ever, in righteousness and lovingseverance; it drops in fresh oil to keep the kindness." God doth not marry his people lamp of grace burning. The Spirit excites, unto himself, and then divorce them; he strengthens, increaseth grace, and makes a hates putting away, Mal. ii. 16. God's love Christian go from one step of faith to another, ties the marriage-knot so fast that neither till he comes to the end of his faith, salva-death nor hell can break it asunder. tion, 1 Pet. i. 9. It is a fine expression of 2. The second argument is, a potentia Dei, the apostle, 2 Tim. i. 14, "The Holy Ghost-from the power of God. In the text, we which dwelleth in us." He who dwells in a house, keeps the house in repair: the Spirit dwelling in a believer, keeps grace in repair. Grace is compared to a river of the water of life, John vii. 38. This river can never be dried up, because God's Spirit is a spring which continually feeds it. A. 3. Grace is carried on to perseverance, by Christ's daily intercession. As the Spirit is at work in the heart, so is Christ at work in heaven. Christ is ever praying that the saint's grace may hold out, John xvii. 11, God the Holy that it is the "are kept by the power of God unto salva- Alas, we are |