First, He may be more sanctified intensively, by adding more and more degrees to the grace he hath received. Our Love, our Faith, our Patience, even all our Graces are capable of augmentation. It's not with us;1 as with Christ, who received the Spirit without measure; so that Christ could not be more holy then he was; he could not do any thing more obedientially to God,2 then he did, nor love God more then he did; but we may all cry out with that man, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief; Lord, I love, help my want of love: Therefore James 1.4. we are exhorted to let patience have her perfect work; Even as Apelles upon all his Pictures would write Faciebat non fecit, because he would still be perfecting it; thus are we to all our graces. Hence are those daily exhortations, To grow in Grace: Even a Paul, even the tallest Giants are to grow in Grace. Paul saith, He knoweth but in part, 1 Cor. 13. and then he can but love in part, and believe in part: Oh then, this is of great concernment, to think that thy best graces may yet be made far better! Thy Grace is nothing to a Pauls, and a Pauls is nothing to the Law, or the Rule, Look to it then, and be as desirous to grow in Grace, as ever thou wert to get into the state of Grace.
First, He may be more sanctified intensively, by adding more and more degrees to the grace he hath received. Our Love, our Faith, our Patience, even all our Graces are capable of augmentation. It's not with us;1 as with Christ, who received the Spirit without measure; so that Christ could not be more holy then he was; he could not do any thing more obedientially to God,2 then he did, nor love God more then he did; but we may all cry out with that man, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief; Lord, I love, help my want of love: Therefore James 1.4. we are exhorted to let patience have her perfect work; Even as Apelles upon all his Pictures would write Faciebat non fecit, because he would still be perfecting it; thus are we to all our graces. Hence are those daily exhortations, To grow in Grace: Even a Paul, even the tallest Gyants are to grow in Grace. Paul saith, He knoweth but in part, 1 Cor. 13. and then he can but love in part, and believe in part: Oh then, this is of great concernment, to think that thy best graces may yet be made farre better! Thy Grace is nothing to a Pauls, and a Pauls is nothing to the Law, or the Rule, Look to it then, and be as desirous to grow in Grace, as ever thou wert to get into the state of Grace.
- 11. Inrensively.
- 22. Extensively.
