§. 11. Of the concatenation of all needfull graces.
THe concatenation, or chaining, and knitting of the foresaid graces together, sheweth, that Christian graces depend one upon another; they neither can be, nor will be singly alone. They are all as several lincks of one Chain, and depend one upon another: the want of any one of them, makes all the rest fruitlesse. If one linck of a Chain drawing up somewhat by it, break, the whole Chain is broken: and that which was held up thereby, will fall down. Of what use can dillgence be, if patience be wanting? crosses will soon cool the zeal and fervour of the most forward. What good will patience do, if we do not persevere? The man that sal∣leth from that whereunto he hath attained, loseth all the benefit thereof. What good will perseverance do, if it be in an unwarrantable course, but aggravate his folly the more? what good will a general warrant do, if it concern not us in par∣ticular?
To shew that the latter duties depend upon the former, as well as the former up∣on the latter, go backward, and consider, whether pretence of a matter belonging to our place, if in general it be not warrantable, be a sufficient pretence. Again, what benefit is it to do that which is lawful, if it be done only for a time, and not fini∣shed? And canst thou finish any weighty, and commendable matter without pati∣ence? And will patience stand a luskish, lazy, slothfull Christian in any stead?
It is observable, that blessednesse is attributed to every needful grace, Matth. 5. 3, &c. which could not be, unlesse he that hath one needful grace, had every needful grace; for where one grace is that is requisite to blessednesse, there are all graces that make up, and consummate blessednesse.
God hath thus lincked all sorts of graces together, and made them all in their* 1.1 kind necessary, in regard of himself, and of us also.
- 1. In regard of himself; to manifest his manifold wisdome, which lively appea∣reth by different graces, all tending to the same end.
- 2. In regard of us, to produce the better trial of our obedience.
Hereupon it becomes us
- 1. To be well instructed in all those graces that are requisit for finishing our Christian course.
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2. To use all good means, and do our best endevour for attaining them.
We may not be idle, and slothful; we must run: we may not be weary, or dis∣couraged; we must run with patience: we may not think it enough with diligence, and patience, to enter upon the race; we must run the race.
We may not be fervent, patient, and constant in an unwarrantable course: we must run with patience, the race that i•…•… set before us.