Grace: the truth and growth and different degrees thereof. The summe and substance of XV. sermons. Preached by that faithful and painful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Christopher Love, late minister of Lawrence Jury, London. They being his last sermons. To which is added a funerall sermon, being the very last sermon he ever preached.

Sermon III. At Law∣rence Jury, London. March 16. 1650/1. (Book 3)

1. KINGS 14. part of the 13. verse.

—Because in him there is found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.

WE have given some Scripture Cha∣racters of those that have a little grace, now we proceed to resolve a third question.

3. Quest.* 1.1 Why doth God so order and ordain it, that among his own people all shall not be of an equal stature in Christ, but there are of them some in whom there shall be but the beginnings of grace found?

Answ.* 1.2 It is true, it is not with Regenera∣tion as it was in the Creation; it is not with the Trees of Righteousnesse, as it was with the Trees of Paradise, which were created all perfect at the first: but it is not so in the Work of Grace, we are not perfectly sancti∣fied, nor at once, but we perfect holinesse in the fear of God, and that by degrees; and God hath given to some of his people but small beginnings and measures of grace, and that for these Reasons.

1. To put a difference between our estate on earth, and our being in heaven. In heaven we shall all have an equal stature in grace,

though it be disputed that there are different degrees of glory. But in heaven the spirits of just men shall all be made perfect,* 1.3 and there we shall all come unto the measure of the sta∣ture of the fulnesse of Christ.* 1.4 All believers here are justified by God alike. God doth not acquit the strong, and hold guilty the weak, but justification is alike to all, but our san∣ctification is not alike, but when we come to heaven, our sanctification shall be then as our Justification is now, that is, perfect and equal, we shall have not only a perfection of parts, but of degrees.

2. This is to make men live in a continu∣al dependance upon divine influxe and sup∣plies from the Spirit of God. If children should be born perfect men as Adam was created, we should not then see that conti∣nual need of, & dependance on our Parents. We are bred in the womb, and afterward born in the world, and then by degrees grow up from stature to stature; and so it is in grace, God deals thus—Converting grace doth not make us so perfect as we shall be af∣terward. At the first Creation he made the trees all fruitful, and at their full growth; but now 'tis otherwise, they are first kernels or seeds, then plants before they are grown trees, and they have dependance on the in∣fluences of heaven: so we are first babes, then young men, and then strong men in Christ, to keep our souls in a dependance on Gods grace.

3. For the greater ornament of the mysti∣cal body of Christ. In a natural body, if eve∣ry member should be of an equal bignesse, the body would be monstrous: but the body is so proportioned in its different members, that the lesser become serviceable to the greater, and so they all orderly discharge their mu∣tual operations. As in Musick there would be no harmony, if the strings were all of an equal bignesse; but one string being the base, and the other the treble, that makes the Mu∣sick to be more melodious; so it is in grace, the different degrees of grace makes the body of Christ more harmonious. It is here as in some curious piece of needle work; if all the silkes were of one colour, it would not set out the work with so much lustre and amia∣blenesse, as the variety of colours will do.

4. To make Gods people see a necessity of maintaining fellowship and communion to∣gether, to edifie and build up each other. There would be no need of Christian dis∣course and holy fellowship, did not our weaknesse require it. As among the members of the body, God hath so ordered them, that each member is serviceable to another, the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee:* 1.5 so among the people of God, some being weak, others strong, there is a necessity of maintaining Communion together. There is an instinct in nature, that things weak in themselves cleave to those things which are stronger then they.* 1.6 The Conies are but a feeble

flock, yet make they their houses in the rocks: a∣mong birds the Dove the silliest and most shiftlesse creature,* 1.7 yet she hides her self in the clefts of the rock; the Vine among the trees the weakest, yet it clings to the wall; the Hopps among the plants, yet it twines about the pole. So God hath ordered it in his infinite wisdom, that some Christians should be stronger, and some weaker in grace, that the strong may help the weake, and each be ser∣viceable to one another.

5. To set out the glory of God in all his glorious attributes.

1. This different size of grace in Christi∣ans, doth glorifie the mercy of God, and the free grace of God, who when there are some Christians that have but a little grace, yet God rewards those small measures of grace with great measures of glory.

1. This magnifies the power of God, who when we are weak, yet the great God mani∣fests his power in our weaknesse,* 1.8 yea, his strength is made perfect in weaknesse.* 1.9 And therefore Paul addes, vers. 10. For when I am weak, then am I strong, that is, in Christ. Is it not a demonstration of great power, to keep a small sparke of fire that it shall not be quenched in a flood of water? yet behold that little spark of grace in thee, shall not be quenched in thee by the flood and torrent of thy corruptions. It is by Gods power that the least measure of grace shall be pre∣served. There is not so much of Gods power

seen in preserving the Angels, as a weak Be∣liever; for the Angels, though mutable, yet are perfect creatures, they have no weights of sins and corruptions to pull them down. But alas! we have such a bias and inclination to sin, that we are apt to be turned aside from God every moment. The Power of God is more seen in preserving a poor belie∣ver in the state of grace, then in preserving the Angels in the state of innocency. And as Gods power is seen in preserving of a little grace, so it's also seen in the increasing of small grace. Grace is like to that cloud w^ch the Prophets servants saw, which at first was but like a mans hand, but afterwards, it over∣spread the whole heavens.* 1.10 True grace is of a spreading and increasing nature; and ther∣fore the increase of our graces may be sha∣dowed out in the vision of the waters of the Sanctuary, which at first were but to the ankles after that to the knees, then to the loynes, and at last so deep that they could not be passed over.* 1.11

3. God doth hereby glorifie his wisdome, As Gods wisdome is demonstrated in the world, by the variety of creatures, which are not all of the same bulk and bignesse, but some bigger and some lesser: so in the Church of God, his wisdom appears, that some Christians are of greater, and some of a lesser measure of grace. Search the whole Creation and you shall find the wisdome of God in the variety of Creatures. In the hea∣vens

there are the greater and lesser lights, and so starres of different magnitude, doe beautifie and bespangle the heavens: so in the sea there are greater and lesser fishes: in the air the great Eagle and little Sparrow: on the earth the Elephant and little Dog: a∣mongst the creeping things there's the great Serpent and the little Pismire: amongst the vegetables, the tall Cedar and the Hysop on the wall: And also amongst the rationall Creatures, there is a Gyant and a Dwarfe: a grown man of a tall stature, and a childe but of a span long. So is Gods wisdome greatly illustrated, that as there is variety of natural proportions in the world; so there are vari∣ous proportions of grace in his Church a∣mongst his children.

Before I come to apply this point, which is of very great use to Gods children, for their comfort; I shall lay down some ge∣neral Positions about small measures of grace.

That in the Church there are found more weak Christians then strong,* 1.12 more young Converts then old and grown Christians.

As in a Forrest there are more young sprouts then old trees, in a garden more young slips then old roots, in the world more young children then old men. In Ni∣niveh there were 120000 Infants, but there was not such a number of old men.* 1.13 By how much things are perfect, by so much they are the fewer. Look amongst other creatures, those

that are of a bigger bulk are of a lesser num∣ber, as in the sea there are more young and little fish then great whales; on the earth the smallest things are innumerable;* 1.14 in the aire there are more swarms of flies, then flocks of birds; so in the Church of God there are more that are young and weak Converts then old Christians. It is with most Christi∣ans as it was with Jonathans signal arrows, which he shot to warn David by,* 1.15 of which two fel short, and but one beyond the mark:—So where one Christian shoots home to the mark of the price of the high calling in Christ Jesus, there are many fall short.

That there are many that have but weak measures and small beginnings of grace,* 1.16 who have been a long time under the Pro∣fession of Religion, and under the means of grace; such were the Hebrews, who for the time that they ought to be teachers, yet had need that one should teach them again,* 1.17 which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat; and I may accommodate to this purpose that speech of Christ,* 1.18 Many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first. There are many who went out early, and took as it were the first step in Profession of Religion; and yet others have over-gone them, who went out after them. Many who have but weak measures of grace, have been of long standing under the meanes of grace. And therefore Christians are not to judge the

strength of grace by their Profession, but by their Proficiency; It is not how many yeares you have been Professors, but what experi∣ence and judgment have you gotten under Ordinances.

That the smallest measures of grace can∣not merit eternal life and glory,* 1.19 because great measures cannot.* 1.20 In merit there ought to be a proportion; but between grace and glory there is none; our services are imper∣fect, our salvation is perfect; our services but momentary, our glory is eternal;* 1.21 there is no comparison between our light duties and eternal weight of glory.* 1.22 The Church in the Canticles is described according to the seve∣ral parts of her body: Her voice is sweet, her Countenance comely, and her Doves eyes are btautifull. Behold thou art fair my Love, (saith Christ) thou hast Doves eyes,* 1.23 thy Cheekes are comely with rowes of Jewels, and thy neck with chains of Gold. Now it is very observable,* 1.24 that though Christ commends the Churches Eyes, her Hair, her Teeth, her Lips and Speech, her Temples, her Breasts, her Neck, &c.* 1.25 yet he doth not commend her hands, to shew that though she be adorned with many graces, as with so many beautiful ornaments and cōmely lineaments, yet she merits nothing at the hands of Christ by all her doings. The Churches beauty is perfect through the comeli∣nesse of Christ.* 1.26

That believers ought not to rest satisfied with the small measures of grace,* 1.27 they have

received; though a little grace may bring you to heaven, yet you are not to take up therewith; but if you have got a little grace, labour for more; and to quicken you here∣unto, Consider,

1. Small measures of grace are not so sen∣sible and evidential to your selves, little things because they are little, are not seen. There may be a little dust hovering up and down in the aire, yet because it is small we see it not: this i•• the reason why Christians doubt; grace is little, and therefore it is not discern'd.* 1.28 Compare Mat. 8. 28. with Mar. 4. 40. and we shal finde, that in Matthew, Christ saith, in his reproof to his disciples, O ye of little faith. And in Mark, How is it that ye have no faith? You may from the variety of these expressions gather this, that a little faith unexercised, as to comfort, is as good as no faith: it was so little, it was as good as none in that particular exigence they were in; you may have a little grace, and yet as to comfort, that little and weak grace may not further thee in a way of strong consolation. Not but that a weak Christian is accepted, that the weaker Christian may lie in his Fathers bosome;—yet it is the strength of grace that gives us strong consolation.

2. Consider, that small measures of grace, though they may bring you to heaven, yet they are not so usefull to others; a weak Christian cannot do much good in Christi∣an converse, because they want judgement

and experience in the wayes of God; and therfore such are not to be received to doubt∣full disputations,* 1.29 but are to be born withal.* 1.30 Spiritual and strong Christians are most use∣ful. Young converts are not fit for some exercises about Religion; they are not fit to strengthen others. When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren:* 1.31 It is not to be under∣stood of his first conversion; but of his Pro∣gresse in Religion, as if Christ had said; when thou art strengthned thy self, strengthen thy brethren.—There are some duties which young converts are not fit for;* 1.32 A piece of new cloth is not fit for an old garment, neither old bottles fit for new wine.* 1.33 Pareus and most Expositors refer that place to that case of conscience,* 1.34 Why Christs disciples did not fast often:—They were like old and weak bot∣tles, and so were not fit for that strong duty which was as new wine, and would be apt to break them. Christ said to his disciples, That he had many things to say unto them,* 1.35 which in regard of their weaknesse they were not then able to hear.

3, Nor are small measures of grace so ho∣nourable to God; God is glorified,* 1.36 when his people bear much fruit. Much meanes and paines and little fruit, is a shame to the Vine dresser; and therefore believers must not rest satisfied with smal measures of grace.

It is our duty to improve those smal mea∣sures of grace which God hath given us.* 1.37

And consider, As he that is faithfull in a lit∣tle,

God will make him ruler over much.* 1.38 Use of grace will increase it;—yet if thy grace be increased, ascribe all to God, it is Gods pound, and not thy pains hath gained.

1. Vse is of comfort to weak Christians,* 1.39 to those young Abijahs, in whom there is found but some little good. Let such know to their comfort,

1. Though thy grace be but little in quan∣tity, yet it is much in value. A pearle, though but litle in substance, yet it is of great worth, so a little grace is of great value; The heart of a wicked man is nothing worth; you may have much knowledge, and seeming grace, but no true worth. A shop full of barrels will not make a man rich, unlesse those vessels be full of commodities: gifts as to heaven, are but the lumber of a Christian, it is grace that makes him rich towards God.

2. Though thy grace be little for the pre∣sent, yet it will grow for the future to a greater measure.* 1.40 The little grain of Mustard∣seed (the least of seeds) will in time grow up to a tree. Grace is fitly compared to leaven, which is of a spreading nature;* 1.41 to the cloud which the Prophets servant saw,* 1.42 and to the waters of the Sanctuary,* 1.43 which did all increase. An Infant of dayes shall proceed by degrees, till he become like the Ancient of dayes, per∣fect as his heavenly Father is perfect.* 1.44 Natura∣lists observe, that the seeds of the Cypresse∣tree are very small, and yet of them proceeds a very high tree: Such is the birth and growth of grace.

3. The little measure of grace once begun in the soul shall be perfected.* 1.45—God wil not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoaking flax until judgment be perfected in victory. By judgment is meant there, the work of Sancti∣fication, till that comes to be prevalent over corruption. Paul was confident,* 1.46 That the that bad begun a good work in them, would finish it, unto the day of Jesus Christ.* 1.47 The Lord is faith∣ful and will doe it. God hath commanded us to go on to perfection,* 1.48 and he doth not com∣mand impossibilities. God blames men of folly, in not proceeding to finish when they have begun to build.* 1.49 God will never begin to reare up a structure of grace, and never finish it.—Besides, God hath promised to perfect that which concerns his servants.* 1.50

4. The weakest Christian hath grace alike for quality, though not for quantity, though thy grace be not so much; yet it is as true as others: though but a convert of yesterday: yet grace as true as of an old Stander in Re∣ligion.—Faith is alike precious in all belie∣vers;* 1.51 for quality, though not for quantity. —Faith in all believers is alike,

1. In respect of the Author, God.

2. The Object, it holds upon the same Christ.

3. The Means of working it are the same, viz. the Word and Spirit. A little grace is true grace. Fire in the sparke is as well fire as the flame: the filings of gold are gold, as well as the whole

wedge, a drop of water is water, as well as the whole Ocean. A little grace is true grace.

4. The End, it hath the same salvation of soul, 1 Pet. 1. 9.

5. God will not put your weak grace to tryal beyond your strength;* 1.52 God will debate with it in measure; he will stay his rough wind in the day of his East-wind.—Thou shalt not have such boisterous stormes of tempta∣tion, as a strong Christian—God will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able.* 1.53 God will take care that the spirit shall not faile.* 1.54

6. Take this for your comfort, the least measure of grace is enough to bring you to heaven. This is not spoken to make you idle, but only to comfort a perplexed con∣science. Many because their grace is weak, they think they have no grace.* 1.55 I have set be∣fore thee (saith Christ to the Church of Phi∣ladelphia) an open door, and no man can shut in for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my Word, and hast not denyed my name. It is true, our comfort lies much in the comparative degree, but our salvation in the positive de∣gree; strong grace hath strong comfort; much faith will bring thee with much com∣fort to heaven; but a little faith will bring thee safely to heaven.

Notes

• * 1.1

  3 Quest.
• * 1.2

  Answ.
• * 1.3

  Heb. 12. 23
• * 1.4

  Eph. 4. 13.
• * 1.5

  1 Cor. 12. 21.
• * 1.6

  Pro. 30. 26
• * 1.7

  Cant. 2. 14.
• * 1.8

  2 Cor. 12. 9, 10.
• * 1.9

  Ver. 10▪
• * 1.10

  1 Kings 18 44, 45.
• * 1.11

  Ezek. 47. 3, 4, 5.
• * 1.12

  1. Posit.
• * 1.13

  Jon. 4. 11. Quò perfe∣ct••••res, ••ò pauciores.
• * 1.14

  Jer. 46. 23.
• * 1.15

  1 Sam. 20. 36.
• * 1.16

  2. Posit.
• * 1.17

  Heb. 5. 12.
• * 1.18

  Mat. 19. 30
• * 1.19

  3. Posit.
• * 1.20

  Miseratio∣nes Dei sunt merita no∣stra.
• * 1.21

  Deus coro∣nat non merita no∣stra, sed do∣na sua.
• * 1.22

  Cant. 2. 14
• * 1.23

  Cant. 1. 15
• * 1.24

  Cant. 1. 10.
• * 1.25

  Cant. 4. 1, 2 3, 4, &c.
• * 1.26

  Ezek. 16. 14.
• * 1.27

  4. Posit.
• * 1.28

  Mat. 8. 26. compared with Mar. 4. 40.
• * 1.29

  Rom. 14. 1, &c. 15. 1.
• * 1.30

  Gal. 6. 1.
• * 1.31

  Luk. 22. 32
• * 1.32

  Mar. 16. 16 17.
• * 1.33

  Pareus.
• * 1.34

  Vers. 14.
• * 1.35

  Joh. 16. 12
• * 1.36

  Joh. 15. 8.
• * 1.37

  5. Posit.
• * 1.38

  Luk. 19. 17
• * 1.39

  1. Vse.
• * 1.40

  Mat. 13. 31 32.
• * 1.41

  Mat. 13. 33 1
• * 1.42

  Kings 18. 44.
• * 1.43

  Ezek. 47. 3. 4.
• * 1.44

  Arbor pro∣cera Cypres∣su••.
• * 1.45

  Mat. 12. 20
• * 1.46

  Phil. 1. 6.
• * 1.47

  1 Thes. 5. 24.
• * 1.48

  Heb. 6. 1.
• * 1.49

  Luke 14. 28, 29.
• * 1.50

  Psal. 138. 8.
• * 1.51

  2 Pet. 1. 1.
• * 1.52

  Isa. 27. 8.
• * 1.53

  1 Cor. 10. 13.
• * 1.54

  Isa. 57. 16.
• * 1.55

  Rev. 3. 8.