Therefore let us examine our selves, am I in the favour of God and of Christ? if I be, surely it is a rich favour, it tends to the best riches, he became poor to make me rich. Where is my faith, my love, my hope, my contentation, my patience and victory over temptations and lusts? Is it a dead favour? Am I in the favour of Christ, and find no fruits of it? Certainly it is but an illusion, therefore as yet I am not in the compass of Christs favour. Therefore I must wait in the use of means, and humbling my self, he gives grace to the humble. And with a sense of our spiritual poverty, let us pray to God to shine on us in Christ, that we may find the fruit of his love enriching us with grace. Oh that my faith, and hope, and grace, were more! Oh, let this evidence that I am in thy favour, by the fruits of it, that I may find those riches that thou hast procured by thy poverty. And let us not rest till we find the fruits of this grace (though not alway in the comfort, yet) in the strength and ability, that we may perform, in some measure, what is required. Though we have not much of the comfort that we desire, yet if we have strength, we have that that is better. It is better to have grace then comfort here: God reserves that for another world. But let us always look ⟨p. 54⟩for one of them, either sensible peace and joy, o• if not that, yet strength against our corruptions, and ability to do God service in some measure; to do something above nature: holy desires, and ability, and strength, they come not from nature, but from the favour of Christ: therefore having these, I know I am in the love of Christ: these are favours that he bestows only upon his own; favours of the left hand he gives to castaways: but his special favours, the riches of grace, he gives only to his children. Therefore let us labour to find somewhat wrought in our natures, that may evidence to us, that we are in this rich favour of God.
Therefore let us examine our selves, am I in the favour of God and of Christ? if I be, surely it is a rich favour, it tends to the best riches, he became poore to make me rich. Where is my faith, my love, my hope, my contentation, my patience and victory over temptations and lusts? Is it a dead favour? Am I in the favour of Christ, and finde no fruits of it? Certainly it is but an illusion, therefore as yet I am not in the compasse of Christs favour. Therefore I must wait in the use of meanes, and humbling my selfe, he gives grace to the humble. And with a sense of our spirituall poverty, let us pray to God to shine on us in Christ, that wee may finde the fruit of his love inriching us with grace. Oh that my faith, and hope, and grace, were more! Oh, let this evidence that I am in thy favour, by the fruits of it, that I may finde those riches that thou hast procured by thy poverty. And let us not rest till we finde the fruits of this grace (though not alway in the comfort, yet) in the strength and ability, that wee may performe, in some measure, what is required. Though we have not much of the comfort that we desire, yet if we have strength, we have that that is better. It is better to have grace then comfort here: God reserves that for another world. But let us alwayes looke ⟨p. 54⟩for one of them, either sensible peace and joy, o• if not that, yet strength against our corruptions, and ability to doe God service in some measure; to do something above nature: holy desires, and ability, and strength, they come not from nature, but from the favour of Christ: therefore having these, I know I am in the love of Christ: these are favours that hee bestowes onely upon his owne; favours of the left hand he gives to castawayes: but his speciall favours, the riches of grace, he gives only to his children. Therefore let us labour to finde somewhat wrought in our natures, that may evidence to us, that we are in this rich favour of God.
