A30241:867
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 34: Of Growth in Grace, The Duty, Necessity, and Glory of it.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1Now the grounds and motives why the people of God are not to be contented with the foundation and principles of grace, but still to proceed in it.
- 1Grounds and motives.
1. Because God accounts non-improvement an unprofitableness, He that hid his talent though he did not embezzle it, yet is called an unprofitable servant, Mat. 25.30. and he is to be cast into utter darkness; Oh this is terrible to consider, that God is not only angry with thy sins, with thy profaneness, but thy barrenness, thy impotent graces, That thou art not got to a higher form: Is not the Father angry with his child though he diligently go to School, if he thrive not, and be always in the same Lesson, Shall he be at all that cost for no more, and thus shall God so patiently bear with thee? give thee all opportunities and means of grace, and yet thou move on the same hinge; Oh ye that are the Children of God, you would fain have comfort, you would have assurance, How can it be when there is no growth? Is not God angry for those weak graces, that still thou art a babe? Did he not tell the Church Rev. 2. he had something against her, because her works were not perfect, were not filled up? Oh here were many empty holes, oh what godly man may not tremble at this, who hath not much emptiness that needs to be filled up?
1. Because God accounts non-improvement an unprofitablenesse, He that hid his talent though he did not imbezill it, yet is called an unprofitable servant, Mat. 25.30. and he is to be cast into utter darknesse; Oh this is terrible to consider, that God is not only angry with thy sins, with thy prophaness, but thy barrennesse, thy impotent graces, That thou art not got to a higher form: Is not the Father angry with his childe though he diligently go to School, if he thrive not, and be alwaies in the same Lesson, Shall he be at all that cost for no more, and thus shall God so patiently bear with thee? give thee all opportunities and means of grace, and yet thou move on the same hinge; Oh ye that are the Children of God, you would fain have comfort, you would have assurance, How can it be when there is no growth? Is not God angry for those weak graces, that still thou art a babe? Did he not tell the Church