1. This magnifies the power of God, who when we are weak, yet the great God manifests his power in our weakness,1 yea, his strength is made perfect in weakness. 2And therefore Paul adds, vers. 10. For when I am weak, then am I strong, that is, in Christ. Is it not a demonstration of great power, to keep a small spark of fire that it shall not be quenched in a flood of water? yet behold that little spark of grace in thee, shall not be quenched in thee by the flood and torrent of thy corruptions. It is by Gods power that the least measure of grace shall be preserved. There is not so much of Gods power ⟨p. 30⟩seen in preserving the Angels, as a weak Believer; for the Angels, though mutable, yet are perfect creatures, they have no weights of sins and corruptions to pull them down. But alas! we have such a bias and inclination to sin, that we are apt to be turned aside from God every moment. The Power of God is more seen in preserving a poor believer in the state of grace, then in preserving the Angels in the state of innocency. And as Gods power is seen in preserving of a little grace, so it's also seen in the increasing of small grace. Grace is like to that cloud wch the Prophets servants saw, which at first was but like a mans hand, but afterwards, it overspread the whole heavens. 3True grace is of a spreading and increasing nature; and therefore the increase of our graces may be shadowed out in the vision of the waters of the Sanctuary, which at first were but to the ankles after that to the knees, then to the loins, and at last so deep that they could not be passed over.4
1. This magnifies the power of God, who when we are weak, yet the great God manifests his power in our weaknesse,1 yea, his strength is made perfect in weaknesse. 2And therefore Paul addes, vers. 10. For when I am weak, then am I strong, that is, in Christ. Is it not a demonstration of great power, to keep a small sparke of fire that it shall not be quenched in a flood of water? yet behold that little spark of grace in thee, shall not be quenched in thee by the flood and torrent of thy corruptions. It is by Gods power that the least measure of grace shall be preserved. There is not so much of Gods power ⟨p. 30⟩seen in preserving the Angels, as a weak Believer; for the Angels, though mutable, yet are perfect creatures, they have no weights of sins and corruptions to pull them down. But alas! we have such a bias and inclination to sin, that we are apt to be turned aside from God every moment. The Power of God is more seen in preserving a poor believer in the state of grace, then in preserving the Angels in the state of innocency. And as Gods power is seen in preserving of a little grace, so it's also seen in the increasing of small grace. Grace is like to that cloud wch the Prophets servants saw, which at first was but like a mans hand, but afterwards, it overspread the whole heavens. 3True grace is of a spreading and increasing nature; and therfore the increase of our graces may be shadowed out in the vision of the waters of the Sanctuary, which at first were but to the ankles after that to the knees, then to the loynes, and at last so deep that they could not be passed over.4
- 12 Cor. 12. 9, 10.
- 2Ver. 10▪
- 31 Kings 18 44, 45.
- 4Ezek. 47. 3, 4, 5.
