The throne of grace discoursed of from Heb. IV, 16 / by Robert Trail ...

SERMON. IX.

HEB. IV. 16.

Let us therefore come boldly un∣to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help intime of need.

THE Gracious Call and Invita∣tion contained in this Text, hath been often spoke to. An Invitation frequently deliver'd in the preaching of the Gospel, and as frequently flighted by most of the hearers of the Gospel. It is such an Invitation, as if it were delivered in the last day, to the miserable Company on Christ's left hand, we may think what complying with it would there be; if there were a Throne of

Grace set up then for but one hour, where mercy and grace might be had in that time of need, Think ye not that there would be coming and crouding, and crying and roaring for mer∣cy and grace? but that day will afford no such Priviledge: Now you have it, and the Lord knows, and next to him, your Consci∣ences know, how this is entertained. What this Throne of Grace is, what coming to it is, what Boldness in coming is allowed, what ground there is for this Boldness, have been spoke to. The last thing in this verse, what Blessings may be had by coming, hath been spoke to also: Of the mercy to be obtained, and of the grace to be found. Of this last, I have handled two things. 1. What is the grace that is to be found. 2. What the Phrase of find∣ing grace imports.

There are two things more that remain in the Text. 1. The Helpfulness of this grace. We are called to come to find grace to help. 2. The Seasonableness of this help of grace. It is grace to help in time of need. So our Translation carries it, and pretty well. The Original runs in fewer Words, grace unto seasonable help, or Help in due season. Of these two I would speak at this time.

1. Of the helpfulness of Grace. God's grace is a most helpful blessing. 1. It is promised by him that gives it, as help. Isa. 41.10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee: Be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Alas! who hath Faith enough to draw at this deep Well

of Salvation? Every Word hath rich Food for Faith. Whenever God would engage the Heart of a poor Creature to a dependance on him, he doth it by promising to be that to them, and to do that for them, that none, besides him∣self, can be, or do. No Man can truly act Faith on God for that he thinks a Creature can do for him. You never believe soundly, but when you look to, and wait on God for that, that is impossible utterly to the whole Creation, to give to you, or to do for you.

2. Again, we find the Saints beg God's help. Whenever they come to God in earnest, they come to this, Lord help, for all other help is vain. There is no more common Prayer in the Old and New Testament, and to this day, than Prayer for the Lord's helping grace. All our Prayers, in their greatest va∣riety, center in this, help us by thy grace. The great Believer, Matth. 15.25. Came and wor∣shipped him, saying, Lord help me. A short Prayer, but mighty and full of Faith. A weak∣er Man in Faith than this Woman, Mark 9.22. Have compassion on us, and help us, pray∣ing for himself and his Son. ver. 24. He prays for himself alone, Lord, help my Ʋnbelief. There is no Believer on Earth, who may not daily pray this Prayer.

3. All the People of God find the helpfulness of his grace. All that seek it find it, and all that find it, find the helpfulness of his Grace.

I would in a few things shew the helpfulness of Grace.

1. The Grace of God helps always to pur∣pose and effectually. This grace helped Paul to labour more abundantly than all the Apostles. 1 Cor. 15.10. I say not, that this is always sensible to the Receaver; but only that grace given is always really effectual for the end for which it is given: It is not given in vain.

2. The grace of God helps universally; there is no case wherein it is not helpful. As with∣out Christ we can do nothing, John 15.5. So, through him strengthening, we may do all things, or any thing, Phil. 4.13. A Christian can ima∣gine, can foresee no Condition, no Tryal, no Difficulty, wherein the Lord's grace cannot help him. So the Text runs, that we may find grace to help in time of need. Let the time be what it will, and the need what it will, grace can help in it. It were a sad weakness of Faith for any Christian to say, I am in that condition, that the grace of God cannot help me in. His grace is Omnipotent.

3. Grace helps sweetly. I mean that it doth not help as an External help, but as an Inter∣nal. As for a familiar Similitude. A weak and weary, or lame Person, may be helped by the strength of another, or by being carried; but this is but external help. This weak, or lame person is helped far better, when his In∣firmity is removed, and new strength given to him, so that he can pleasantly walk and run. Psal. 138.3. In the day when I cried, thou an∣sweredst me, and strengthenedst me with strenth

in, my Soul. Its true, the grace of God, where∣in our strength consists, is without us, and in him; but it is inwardly applyed to us, when strength is found and felt. Therefore is it that Believers, not only find, by the dispensings of of his helping grace, an effectual strength for their Work and Duty, but a great deal of sweetness and easiness in the exerting of that gracious help. So Psal. 119.32. I will run in the way of thy Commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. When he draws, we run, Song 1.4. When such helping Influences of grace come on Believers, holy Obedience be∣comes in a manner as sweet, easie, and natu∣ral to them, as it is to a Man that hath bo∣dily strength, to use it, in speaking, walking, or working. Isa. 40.31. They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew (or change) their strength, they shall mount up with wings as Eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. Psal. 103.5. Thy youth is re∣newed like the Eagles, is one of the Notes in the Psalmist's sweet Song. No Saint is igno∣rant of this in his own Experience. Who knows not, that at some times their Work is heavy, and is a Burden too heavy for them; at other times it is as light as a Feather, and as pleasant and easie to them, as for a Bird that hath Wings, to fly?

Lastly. The grace of God helps very myste∣riously. Sometimes its help is very secret; and at other times it is very plain to be discovered. Its help is sometimes so secret, that the Saints cannot know or discern it at present, but they are made to know it afterwards. Psal. 73.2.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipt, ver. 22. So foolish was I and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. This is the account he gives of the power of the Temptation he was under, and of the bad frame it had brought upon him. ver. 23. Neverthe∣less, I am continually with thee: thou-hast hold∣en me by my right hand. He did not know this, till he was brought out of the darkness of the Temptation; but then he did discern, that there had been a secret support given him, otherwise he had fallen utterly.

2. What Encouragement have we to come to the Throne of Grace for this helping Grace.

1. The Proposal and Revelation made to us of this grace as helpful, is an Encouragement to come for it. Hath the Lord revealed his grace as only helpful to his people; and should they not come for that help? Your Faith is not very strong and active, unless you can catch at the grace of God, without a plain particular Pro∣mise. I say not, but there are Promises ma∣ny and great, of this helping grace, and that Faith must build upon them, and doth: But I only mean, that the bare Revelation of the Treasures of grace, that are with the Lord, should, when an Interest in the Promises is dark, encourage a poor Soul to come for a share of this grace of God. Psal. 130.4. But there is forgiveness with thee. He saith not, there is forgiveness for me, but there is forgiveness with thee. So ver. 7. Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. Wherefore is this for∣giveness,

this mercy, this redemption with the Lord? and why is it revealed? but that the guilty should come for this forgiveness, the mi∣serable for this mercy, the many-wise Captives for this plenteous redemption? The Lord's ful∣ness of grace, is an Argument for our Faith, as well as his Goodness and Faithfulness in making and performing Promises of grace.

2. But we have Promises also for our Encou∣ragement. Promises imply God's fulness of grace, but do express his Good will to dispense it, and do bind and engage his Truth to fulfil them to all that take God at his Word, and trust him on his Word. It is a pity that ever the ex∣ceeding great and precious Promises, 2 Pet. 1.1,4. and precious Faith should be parted. Mark 10.49. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called; and they call the blind man, say∣ing unto him, be of good comfort, rise, he cal∣leth thee. They had no Promise, but they un∣derstood Christ's calling of the blind Man, was an Act of mercy, and on a design of shewing more mercy. But we have many Promises of grace.

3. We have all the experience of the Commu∣nication of his grace according to his Promises, for our encouragement in coming for grace. E∣very Supplicant for grace, should encourage his Heart, by all the Lord's dispensings of his grace. How many of these are reyealed in the Word? and many like them daily are to be seen in the Church of Christ. If you have such Experi∣ences of your own, build upon them, praise for them, and beg more. If you have none of your own, behold the Showers of Grace that

have fallen upon many as bad as your selves, and which have changed them into that same blessed State, that you desire to be in.

Appl. 1. Is the grace of God thus helpful? and should we come to the throne of grace for the help of grace? Then, we see that weak Chri∣stians should pray most: Such as can do least for themselves, have most need of grace to help them, and should seek it most. Is any Man under a clear Conviction, by the light of the Word, and his own sensible Experience, that he is extreamly weak, and utterly unable for any good Word or Work? This Man, of all Men, should pray most. Manage your sense of weakness, as a Call to ask much of this helping grace of God.

2. Surely then, Coming to the throne of grate for grace to help, must be hopeful work. If at any time, Satan, or an ungodly World, should tempt you, or your own Heart fail you, in fears of the unprofitableness of seeking God, have this as a ready answer, I am fit for no∣thing; his grace can help me in every thing; whither should I go but to a throne by grace? what can I beg there but his grace? Say with David, Psal. 57.2,3. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from Heaven and save me: God shall send forth his mercy and his Trath. And will not these save any Man?

Exhort. I would give you a few directions in the practice of this Duty of coming to the throne of grace for helping grace. 1. Come to seek this helping grace. 2. When you seek

it, expect it. 3. When you expect it, receave it. 4. When you receave it, guide it.

1. Come to the throne of grace to seek help∣ing grace. Seeking (as is already remarked) is not expressed in the Text; yet it is plainly im∣plyed both in the Duty of Coming, and in the Blessings of obtaining and finding. You must seek grace to help you. Grace will not help to Sin, but helps against it, yet, blessed be God, grace can and will help sinners, otherwise we were in a forlorn state indeed. Grace will not help to laziness (that were an hinderance and no help) but grace will help lazy people, and help them out of it. To engage your di∣ligence in seeking helping grace, I would shew you what help grace gives.

1. Grace helps to save you. If people come to the throne of grace, if Men pray, and have not Salvation in their Eye, they come not a∣right, they pray not. We are saved by grace, Eph. 2.5. Nothing but grace can save a sinner; and if it were not the grace of God, and there∣fore Omnipotent, it could not save. Is not it a great help, to be helped to Salvation? Is not that a great lift, to be delivered from the pow∣er of darkness, and to be translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son? Col. 1.13. Who would not prize and desire a saving lift of God's grace? All that have found it, value it; and they that never found it, should (but will not) beg it earnestly. The grace of God brings Sal∣vation, Tit. 2.11. It brings it near to Men in the Gospel: This is all that it doth to many. But to some, this grace brings Salvation, and gives it, plants it in their Hearts, and waters

it, and makes it grow with the increases of God, till it be ripe, full-grown Salva∣tion. Would you be helped to Heaven? Imploy amd implore the grace of God; it on∣ly can do it. And must not they perish, and do they not perish justly, that will not accept of saving grace? nor beg it, when they must perish without it?

2. Grace helps to grace. All the grace that is given to us, is but a drop from the great Foun∣tain of grace, that we make our Application to. The first grace that is in us, is a Gift and Stream of that grace that is with him. That gracious change that is wrought on a Sinner, by which of a graceless, he is made a graoious Person, How do you think it is brought about? There is a mystery in it, that a Master in Israel did not know. John 3.9,10. No Simi∣litude from the old Creation, can fully de∣clare it: yet some of them are used in the Word, and give some light. This Work of Grace on the Ungodly, whom this Grace falls on, is like a Sun-beam darted from the body of the Sun of Righteousness, upon a Sinner dead in Sins, that doth immediately quicken him, and enliven him. It is both Light and Life. It is all originally in Christ, and out of his fulness given to all that partake of it. John 1.4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. Joh 8.12. I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of Life, saith our Lord Jesus. Christ is such a Sun, that all on whom his gracious Beams light, are saved: he quickens all he shines up∣on. Men perish under the Gospel indeed, but

it is because the Light of it shines only about them, and without them. 2 Cor. 4.4,6. but not into their Hearts. All the grace whereby any, and all the redeemed of the Lord are convert∣ed, beautified and saved, is from the highest Spring, grace in Christ. 1 Tim. 1.14. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant, with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. How came Paul by all the Faith and Love his blessed Soul was filled with? All came from the grace of the Lord Jesus? And every par∣taker of true grace, will own the same Ori∣ginal.

3. This helping grace which we should ask, not only helps to Salvation and Grace, but al∣so helps grace it self. The grace receaved, must be refreshed and watered and made to grow, by influences from the same Fountain, from whence it first flowed, or else it will wither quickly. Therefore we have the grace of God in the Fountain, to betake our selves unto, for the helping of his grace in us: For tho' grace as in Christ, needs no help, yet his grace given to, and dwelling in us, needs a great deal. The Father of the Lunatick, Mark 9.22,24. came to throne of grace but sorrily: What a marvellous change was wrought in him, and that suddenly? In his first Address he acted Un∣belief grosly: in the next he acts Faith, profes∣seth Faith, and prays Christ's help against his Unbelief. Many did cast out Devils in Christ's Name, but none could help other folks Unbelief, nor their own. His begging help against his Unbelief, was the same Prayer with that of the Apostles, Luke 17.5. Lord, increase our faith.

And it gave more Honour to Christ in his Of∣fice of a Saviour, and did signifie more, both of true Faith in Christ, and of an honest heart in the Man, than if he had addressed with the highest Confidence, to the Lord, to cast the Devil out of his Son. The Youth is lying wal∣lowing, and foaming, and torn by the evil Spi∣rit, in the sight of his tender Father: Yet no sooner doth the light of Faith shine in his Heart, but he seeth a Devil of Ʋnbelief there also, and he first begs that Christ would cast out that, and help his Faith; for helping of Ʋnbelief and helping of Faith is the same thing. He that seeks the helping of his Ʋnbelief, seeks the removing of it; and he that seeks the helping of hie Faith, seeks the increase and strengthening of it. And both are done by the same Hand, by the same Act of Grace, and at the same time, when∣ever and where-ever they are done. And as it is with Faith, so is it with all the graces of the Spirit in Believers, they do need help of his grace: And it must be sought at the throne of grace. Can you say, I repent? add, Lord help my Impenitence? I love, say, Lord help its cold∣ness, and blow it up to a flame? Where the true grace of God is, there is still some sense of its weakness, and inclination after an encrease there∣in, and some dependance acted on the Lord, who began the good work, for performing it to the day of Jesus Christ, Phil. 1.6.

4. The grace of God helps our Infirmities, Rom. 8.26. If it were not written, we should think it hard to use the expression. If the Spi∣rit of God plant grace in the Heart, is not that fair? if he water his own Plants, is not that

fair? Nay, but saith the Apostle, he helps our Infirmities also. Might not the Holy Spirit dis∣dain to have any dealing with the Infirmities of his People? Yes: but he will not. If he take no care of our Infirmities, we may and must be lost thereby. A Criminal pardoned by an Act of Grace, may die of a Disease, if not cu∣red; may starve of hunger and cold, if not provided with necessaries; may be slain by his Enemies, if not protected. Sense of Infirmities, should make us beg helping Grace.

5. Grace helps in all the Work and Duty we are called to. Without assisting grace, the least piece of Work cannot be rightly done, and by its help any Work may be done. 2 Cor. 9.8. God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. There is Grace, all grace, and its abounding in God to∣ward his people: From this given to them, there is sufficiency, and all sufficiency, and that always, and in all things, and thence flows good work, every good work, and abounding to every good work. Like to this is his Prayer, Heb. 13.21. The God of peace make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ. We need Grace's help in every good Work; no Work is truly good, but what grace helps us to. Grace and Works agree sweetly in this Order. Grace begins and Works follow. Grace works on the Man, and makes him a Worker: Grace passeth on the Person and his Works, and makes them accepted; and the accepted

Worker gives grace all the glory both of his Works, and of his own and their Acceptance. Whence his help comes, thither his Praises go.

Lastly. Grace helps in Extremities. But of this in the last thing in the Text.

This then is the first Exhortation, Come to the throne of grace, seeking helping grace. Enlarge and heighten the sense of your Need and Weak∣ness as much as you will, the Supply to be had at the Throne of grace is sufficient. Phil. 4.19. My God shall supply all your need accord∣ing to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus. And in Paul's Stile, Glory and Grace change Names frequently, Eph. 1.6,12,14. and 3.16. 2 Cor. 3.18.

Exhort. 2. You must not only seek grace to help, but when you seek it, you must expect it. The Text runs plainly this way. The A∣postle implies asking, but expresseth finding, and coming that we may find: therefore we should come with expectation of finding. The Spirit and Life of Prayer in Faith, lyeth more in Expectation, then in asking. Unwise Chri∣stians let out the Life-Blood, and vital Spirits of Prayer, when they let their Expectations languish. Here is a common, but unregarded Error, in Christians exercise. When they set their Face to pray, they make some Consci∣ence of searching out their Wants, they la∣bour to improve that sight to the raising of fervent desires of a supply of them; if they yet go higher to take in a sense of the fulness and freeness of that grace where their help is; yet

how rarely are they careful to raise up Ex∣pectations of that helping grace? few can say as Psal. 55.16. As for me, I will call upon God: and the Lord shall save me. ver. 17. Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice, Few can charge their Souls as he did, Psal. 62.5. My Soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. See how the Prophet's Faith rose, Micah 7.7. I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my Salvation: my God will hear me. Looking is a needy Act of Faith, wait∣ing is an expecting Act, and assurance is the highest. If you look to the Lord, you may quickly know he is the God of your Salvati∣on; if you know him as the God of your Salvation, and your God, you will ask earnest∣ly, wait patiently, and by the same Faith Pro∣phecy a gracious answer. What do you take Praying in Faith to be? Jam. 1.6. It is not only to pray, believing that we call upon the true God, in the Name of Christ, and for things agreeable to his Will? it is not only that we believe that he is able to give what we ask, but that he will give what is good: But be∣cause his grace to help, is not only good, and always good, but nothing is good without it, Christians should beg grace with confident Expectations. What means Christ's frequent answer to Men? Matth. 8.13. As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee, and Matth. 9.29. According to your Faith, be it unto you: Is it not to tell us, that he measures out his Bounty to Men, according to their believing Expectati∣ons from him? John 11.40. Jesus saith unto

Martha, Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Our way is, if we could see the glory of God, then we would believe Christ's way is just contrary; we must first believe, and then we shall see the glory of God. We say, if the Lord would glorifie himself in performing his Promises, and in hearing our Prayers, then we would believe strongly. But this is interverting of Christ's Order. Martha was a Believer in Christ, and expresseth Faith several ways in this Chapter. It appears in the joynt Message they sent to Christ, ver. 3. Lord, be∣hold he whom thou lovest, is sick. ver. 5. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her Sister, and La∣zarus. A blessed Family, and few like it, all loved of Christ, and doubtless-lovers of Christ: but they built more on his love to them, than on their love to him, like humble and wise Believers. ver. 21, 22. Martha said unto Je∣sus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Her Sister Mary said the same, ver. 32. It is likely that none ever died in Christ's Presence, when he was on earth; he cu∣red all that imployed him. But I know that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Here was some Faith. When Christ promiseth, ver. 23. that her brother should rise again, she acts Faith as to the Doctrine of the Resurrection ver. 24. I know that he shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day. When Christ goes on in preaching himself, ver. 25.26. and asks her of her Faith, she answe∣red bravely, Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come in∣to

to the world, ver. 27. A Confession like Peter's, Matth. 16.16. What then was wanting in this good Woman? why doth our Lord put such an if thou wouldest believe, to one that did believe so much and so well? Because notwithstanding her Faith in Christ's Person, as the Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, notwith∣standing her Faith of his power, yet in this instance of raising Lazarus, she expected no∣thing. When Christ, ver. 39. bids take away the stone, she said, Lord, by this time he stink∣eth, for he hath been dead four days. She that believed Lazarus should rise at the last day, could not believe that he should rise after death had held him but four days. Such is the very nature of Unbelief, or of weak Faith in true Believers; they can, or rather think they do, believe greater and harder things when not much tryed about them, better and more easily, than smaller and easier things that their Faith is called to a present exercise about. Let all Christians in all their approaches to the throne of grace, behold this as written on the open Gates to this Throne, and hear it pro∣claimed by him that sitteth on it, Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe thou shouldest see the glory of God? Some Believers are apt to think, that a trembling fearing frame is fitter for them, and that raising of expectation of good from God, will prevent or hinder Humility, and lying low before the Lord. But they are quite mistaken, that think Faith and Humility are inconsistent. They not only agree well together, but they cannot be

parted. Hab. 2.4. Behold his Soul, which is lifted up, is not upright in him: But the just shall live by Faith. To bottom Expectations of grace from God, on the account of any good, real, or apprehended in us, or done by us, is not only destructive of Humility, but of Faith also. A Boaster is an abominable Creature at the throne of grace; but a Pleader for, and Expectant of Grace for Grace's sake is an humble Believer, and a right Courtier at this Throne.

Exhort. 3. You must not only seek grace, when you come to the throne of grace, and expect it when you seek it, but you must be careful to receave grace when it is given. Make room for it. What is said by the Lord in the Prophet, Mal. 3.10. though spoke in another case, is applicable to this: I will open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a Bles∣sing, that there shall not be room enough to re∣ceave it. Felt Want, and strong Faith, make much room for the grace of God. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psal: 81.10. It must be a wide-mouth'd Soul, that takes in, and a well-filled Soul that receaves a fill of God. How mighty is that Prayer? Eph. 3.17,18,19. We have all need not only to get it by heart, but to get it into our Hearts, and to send it up to Heaven daily from our Hearts; Paul makes a special Preface to that Prayer, ver. 14, 15. In it he prays for the strengthen∣ing of the inner man, by the spirit, ver. 16. That Christ might dwell in their Hearts by Faith, ver. 17. That being rooted in love, they might measure the dimensions of Christ's love, and know it that passeth knowledge, ver. 18, 19. Can any Man go higher in Prayer? Yes, one

step higher; That ye might he filled with all the fulness of God. Now who hath room in his Soul for the answer of such a Prayer as this is? If we had not these mighty Words in this way, we should be tempted to think that it were rather a Prophecy of what is to be en∣joyed within the Vail, than a Prayer of Faith to be put up by Travellers in the way to Hea∣ven, and for, Blessings to be enjoyed in the House of their Pilgrimage. But a Prayer it is, and some good performance is given within time, though the main measure of the answer of this (as of all the most spiritual Prayers of Saints in this lise) is referved for the day of the Lord. It is a greater matter both of Duty and Dimculty, than most Christians think, to have the ever∣lasting Doors of our Souls lifted up, and cast o∣pen, that the King of Glory may enter with his super-abounding grace. Many Believers take much pains, and make many Prayers, for that grace of God, which yet they teceave not, when it comes and craves room and admittance. Grace comes always in and with Jesus Christ: What∣ever therefore hinders his Welcome, excludes his Grace from entering. Grace comes in and by the Promise: If the Promise be not receaved by Faith, how can the Grace promised be re∣ceaved: Grace comes always as Grace, free and undeserved. How can a proud Person receave it? And there is Pride often working in the Dis∣couragements of Christians: They find they want much of the helping grace of God, they ask it, they see it in the Promises, and in Christ's hand: But they think, should such as I, lay hold on such a precious gift, as his grace? Why not? It is grace, grace offered of grace,

given of grace: Do you need it? Why do you not receave it, and make room for it? Some receave not that grace that is tendered to them, because it is not the particular grace they sought and expected, or because it comes not to them in that way they looke for it in. Others receave not, nor welcome the grace they beg, because they think they cannot receave it: They look on Receaving as a great and difficult business, far above their ability. But, is refu∣sing of it, hard also? Alas! that is easie, be∣cause natural to our Hearts. Is not the seed of Receaving, in all sincere asking and expecting of grace from God? receaving of his grace is no more but a Heart-willingness that his grace may enter in, and act like it self upon us: And this receaving act of Faith, doth greatly glo∣rifie God. Some think it very strange, and hardly credible, that any Believer can ask earn∣estly that grace, which when tendered, he is not willing to receave. See how it was with some eminent-Saints, Job 9.16. If I had called, and he had answered me, yet would not I be∣lieve that he had hearkened unto my voice. Why so? for he breaketh me with a tempest, ver. 17. But may not fatherly Love and Cor∣rection be together on a Believer? Rev. 3.10. Yet the sense of the smart of Correction, is a strong Temptation to question the Love of the Correcter. David or Asaph, Psal. 77.1,2. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me. Who would think that this Man refused to be com∣forted? Did he not pray for Confolation. Yet he saith, My Soul refused to be comforted. I remembred God and was troubled. I complain∣ed,

and my Spirit was overwhelmed. There is a peevishness of Unbelief, that Christians should watch against.

Exhort. 4. You must take care to guide this helping grace of God, when you have receaved it. Guiding of grace is an Art and Mystery that Christians should study diligently. The rule of this Art, is this, Guide the grace of God, re∣ceaved by you, for those ends for which it is gi∣ven by him. Now what ends hath the Lord in gi∣ving of his grace? They are only two. 1. For the Praise and Glory of the Giver. 2. For the Benefit of the Receavers. Guide his Grace for those ends, and you guide and use it well. Chri∣stians have little of his Grace, and complain sorrowfully; not because he gives, and they re∣ceave little, but because they guide and manage this richest Talent poorly. Dare any Believer forbear to say, if I had kept all I had got, and guided well all he hath given, I had been far richer in Grace, than now I am? Misguiding of Grace receaved is the greatest Sin, because an abuse of the greatest Blessing. Watch against it, if you love his Glory, and your own Weal.

I come now to the forth and last thing in the Verse about this Grace of God, and that is, the Seasonableness of its Help. It helps always, but especially in time of need. On this I shall now on∣ly note some few things in general.

Obs. 1. Whatever Believers present Case be, a time of need may come. And they should fore∣see it. Though they know not particular Cir∣cumstances, yet they should lay their account with it. The Lord gives faithful Warnings in the Word, Faith should take them. We see the

times of need that many others come in; and we should take warning by their Experience. Every Christian hath found times of special need for∣merly: the like may come again.

Obs. 2. Christians should pray before the time of need come, for that grace that may help them when it comes. The Prophet speaks of bearing for the time to come. Isa. 42.23. The Apostle, 1 Tim. 6.19. of laying up in store a good foundation for the time to come. So here, Men must pray for the time to come. Is any man afflicted? let him pray, Jam. 5.13. And because any Man may be afflicted, he should pray before-hand.

1. Because we know not but we may be surprized by a time of need. Our Lord's Argument, Mark 13.33. Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is. The Lord rarely gives particular warning of the time when special need is coming. It ordinarily comes by surprize to us. Death may, but Sickness, Losses, and Af∣fliction usually come on suddenly: And surprizing Tryals are sore and searching ones.

2. We should pray before a time of need come, for often when that time comes, we are thereby disabled for Prayer. The distress may be such, that even a Believer can do nothing. The night may come, when no man can work, John 9.4. Pray much before it come.

3. Because many Prayers have their answers de∣layed till a time of need comes. Christians think that every day and hour of their Life, is a time of need (and so it is in some sense) but there are some special Seasons of great need, of which the Lord is the only Disposer; and he fits such times with dispensings of that Grace, that his People

have many a day begged before. There may be worse reasoning than this: It may be there are some Blessings of Grace, that I have oft sought, and have not yet got, that are reserved for me by the Lord, against a time, when I shall need them more than now I do.

Thus you see, in the Scope of the Apostle in these Words, that there is strong arguing for constant seeking of God's Grace. You are ei∣ther at present in a time of special need; or if it be not present, it may come. Whatever case a Believer is in, his Obligation is in a manner equal, to this great Duty, of coming to the Throne of Grace for Grace to help him, as his Matters do require.