Sometimes a Christian in case of temptations' and desertion, conscience may suggest his wants altogether, God will humble him this way, though it may be an error in conscience, yet I would there were more of this kind; such people are to be encouraged, as in Revel. 2, Thou sayest thou art poor,1 and the world thinks so, but thou art rich: so there are many that are poor in their own conceits, that think they have nothing, but indeed they are rich, and they discover their interest in ⟨p. 40⟩the true riches, by their desire, and hungering and thirsting after grace, by their care to please God in all things; to approve themselves to God, to do nothing against conscience, by their care in using the means of salvation, and their walking circumspectly; a man may see and discover their riches in their carriage: and if there be he least degree of grace, it is great riches: in regard of inferior things, though it be little in regard of that we shall have in Heaven. Let us search what we have, that we may walk thankfully, and comfortably. We see worldly men how they set themselves out in a little riches, and swell in their own conceits. A Christian hath that that is infinitely better, and shall he alway droop and be cast down? If he be a sound Christian that hath any goodness in him,2 let him walk a comfortable and cheerful life, answerable to his riches. We account them base minded men, that being very rich, yet they live as if they had nothing: so Christians are too blame, that having great riches in Christ, they live as uncomfortably as if they had none. What is the reason (Christ being so rich) that Christians have no more grace? Sometimes it is because they search not their own estates for good, as well as bad. And then they do not empty themselves enough, that Christ may fill them. They are not thankful enough for that they have; for thankfulness is the way to get more.
Sometimes a Christian in case of temptations' and desertion, conscience may suggest his wants altogether, God wil humble him this way, though it may be an error in conscience, yet I would there were more of this kinde; such people are to bee encouraged, as in Revel. 2, Thou sayest thou art poore,1 and the world thinkes so, but thou art rich: so there are many that are poore in their owne conceits, that think they have nothing, but indeed they are rich, and they discover their interest in ⟨p. 40⟩the true riches, by their desire, and hungring and thirsting after grace, by their care to please God in all things; to approve themselves to God, to doe nothing against conscience, by their care in using the meanes of salvation, and their walking circumspectly; a man may see and discover their riches in their carriage: and if there be he least degree of grace, it is great riches: in regard of inferiour things, though it be little in regard of that wee shall have in Heaven. Let us search what wee have, that we may walke thankfully, and comfortably. We see worldly men how they set themselves out in a little riches, and swell in their owne conceits. A Christian hath that that is infinitely better, and shall hee alway droope and be cast downe? If he be a sound Christian that hath any goodnesse in him,2 let him walk a comfortable and cheerfull life, answerable to his riches. We account them base minded men, that being very rich, yet they live as if they had nothing: so Christians are too blame, that having great riches in Christ, they live as uncomfortably as if they had none. What is the reason (Christ being so rich) that Christians have no more grace? Sometimes it is because they search not their owne estates for good, as well as bad. And then they doe not empty themselves enough, that Christ may fill them. They are not thankfull enough for that they have; for thankfulnesse is the way to get more.
- 1Rev. 2.
- 2Why Christians are so poor in grace.
