Grace we see is glory, ⟨p. 499⟩especially when it is in strength,1 and the more grace grows, the more glory, the more it shines the more glory: we say of fire, the more it burns the less it smokes, the less infirmity appears that may disgrace it, the more grace, the more light and lustre, and the less infirmity: glory belongs to the growth of grace in this world; for is not a Christian, a glorious Christian, when he is a grown Christian, when he sends a lustre as a pearl, when as a glorious light, he shines to the example of others; when he is able, as Paul saith gloriously of himself, I can ⟨p. 500⟩do all in Christ that strengtheneth me, to want, and to abound, cast him into any condition what you will, he is like himself; cast Joseph into prison he is Joseph still, cast Paul in the dungeon he is Paul still, and is never more glorious, than in the middest of afflictions, so grace growing to some perfection is glorious; Wisdom makes a mans face to shine saith Solomon, so it is true of all other graces in some perfection, they make a man shine, there is nothing in the world so glorious as a Christian that is grown to some perfection, indeed he is so glorious that the ⟨p. 501⟩eye of the world when it is cast upon him, it stirs up envy, as carnal persons when they see a Christian man unmoveable in the middest of all motions, and unchangeable in all changes, when nothing can alter him, but he goes on, they wonder at the condition of this man, when as indeed his grounds, and resolutions are above all discouragements, or encouragements that the world can afford: David was a King, and a Prophet, and David was a holy man, and David for constitution of body was ruddy, and of a sweet complexion, and David for the manner of ⟨p. 502⟩his Kingdom, was a King of a great people, there were many excellencies of David, oh but what doth David account the prerogative of a man? Blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven, in whose spirit there is no guile, that is, that is truly sanctified in Spirit, that is in the state of justification, and as a witness of that, of the forgiveness of his sins, hath a spirit without guile, happy is that man, not that is a King or a Prophet, or a strong man, or a beautiful man, or hath this endowment or that, but happy is the man whose sins are forgiven, and whose ⟨p. 503⟩spirit is sanctified.
Grace we see is glory, ⟨p. 499⟩especially when it is in strength,1 and the more grace growes, the more glory, the more it shines the more glory: we say of fire, the more it burnes the lesse it smoakes, the lesse infirmity appeares that may disgrace it, the more grace, the more light and luster, and the lesse infirmity: glory belongs to the growth of grace in this world; for is not a Christian, a glorious Christan, when he is a growne Christian, when he sends a luster as a pearle, when as a glorious light, he shines to the example of others; when he is able, as Paul saith gloriously of himselfe, I can ⟨p. 500⟩doe all in Christ that strengthneth me, to want, and to abound, cast him into any condition what you will, he is like himselfe; cast Ioseph into prison he is Ioseph still, cast Paul in the dungeon he is Paul still, and is never more glorious, than in the middest of afflictions, so grace growing to some perfection is glorious; Wisedome makes a mans face to shine saith Salomon, so it is true of all other graces in some perfection, they make a man shine, there is nothing in the world so glorious as a Christian that is growne to some perfection, indeed he is so glorious that the ⟨p. 501⟩eye of the world when it is cast upon him, it stirres up envie, as carnall persons when they see a Christian man unmoveable in the middest of all motions, and unchangeable in all changes, when nothing can alter him, but he goes on, they wonder at the condition of this man, when as indeede his grounds, and resolutions are above all discouragements, or incouragements that the world can afford: David was a King, and a Prophet, and David was a holy man, and David for constitution of body was ruddy, and of a sweete complection, and David for the manner of ⟨p. 502⟩his Kingdome, was a King of a great people, there were many excellencies of David, oh but what doth David account the prerogative of a man? Blessed is the man whose sinnes are forgiven, in whose spirit there is no guile, that is, that is truely sanctified in Spirit, that is in the state of justification, and as a witnesse of that, of the forgivenesse of his sinnes, hath a spirit without guile, happy is that man, not that is a King or a Prophet, or a strong man, or a beautifull man, or hath this indowment or that, but happy is the man whose sinnes are forgiven, and whose ⟨p. 503⟩
- 1Grace glorious when it is in strength.
