1Thirdly, The Dew doth fall Insensibly and Invisibly. So the Grace of God, we feel the comfort, sweetness and operation of it, but it falls insensibly without observation. Inferior things here feel the sweet and comfortable influence of the Heavens, but who sees the active influence upon them, which how it is derived from superior bodies to the inferior is not observable? as our Saviour speaks of the beginnings of grace and workings of it.2 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, or whether it goeth: so is every one that is borne of the Spirit. It works we know not how: we feel the work, but the manner of working is unknown to us. Grace therefore is wrought ⟨p. 209⟩undiscernably. No man can see the conversion of another, nay no man almost can discern his own conversion at first; Therefore this Question should not much trouble you; show us the first hour, the first time of your conversion and entrance into the state of grace. Grace (to many) falls like the dew, by little and little, drop and drop, line upon line, it falls sweetly and undiscernably upon them at the first. Therefore, it is hard to set down the first time, seeing (as our blessed Saviour speaks) grace at the first is wondrous little, likened to a grain of Mustard-seed. But though it be small at first,3 yet nothing is more glorious and beautiful afterwards, for from a small seed, it grows to over-spread and be great, shooting out branches. And as the root of Jesse was a despised stock and in show a dead root, yet thence Christ rose, a branch as high as Heaven. So the beginning of a Christian, is despised and little, like a dead stock as it were,4 but they grow upward and upward still, till they come to Heaven it self. Thus we see there is nothing in the world more undiscernible in the beginning then the work of grace, which must make us not over-curious to examine exactly the first beginnings thereof, because it is as the falling of the Dew or the blowing of the wind.
1Thirdly, The Dew doth fall Insensibly and Invisibly. So the Grace of God, wee feele the comfort, sweetnesse and operation of it, but it fals insensibly without observation. Jnferiour things heere feele the sweet and comfortable influence of the Heavens, but who sees the active influence upon them, which how it is derived from superiour bodies to the inferiour is not observable? as our Saviour speakes of the beginnings of grace and workings of it.2 The winde bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it commeth, or whether it goeth: so is every one that is borne of the Spirit. Jt workes we know not how: we feele the worke, but the manner of working is unknowne to us. Grace therefore is wrought ⟨p. 209⟩undiscernably. No man can see the conversion of another, nay no man allmost can discerne his owne conversion at first; Therefore this Question should not much trouble you; shew us the first houre, the first time of your conversion and entrance into the state of grace. Grace (to many) falls like the dew, by little and little, drop and drop, line upon line, it falls sweetly and undiscernably upon them at the first. Therefore, it is hard to set downe the first time, seeing (as our blessed Saviour speakes) grace at the first is wondrous little, likened to a graine of Mustard-seed. But though it be small at first,3 yet nothing is more glorious and beautifull afterwards, for from a small seed, it growes to over-spread and be great, shooting out branches. And as the roote of Iesse was a despised stock and in shew a dead roote, yet thence Christ rose, a branch as high as Heaven. So the beginning of a Christian, is despised and little, like a dead stocke as it were,4 but they grow upward and upward still, till they come to Heaven it selfe. Thus we see there is nothing in the world more undiscernable in the beginning then the worke of grace, which must make us not over-curious to examine exactly the first beginnings thereof, because it is as the falling of the Dew or the blowing of the winde.
- 1Grace comes insensibly and invisibly.
- 2Joh. 3.1.Ioh. 3.1.
- 3Mark. 4.31, 32.
- 4Pro. 4.18.
