A49244:150
Grace: the truth and growth and different degrees thereof. The sum and substance of…Grace: the truth and growth and different degrees thereof. The summe and substance of…
Grace: the truth and growth and different degrees thereof. The sum and substance of XV. sermons. Preached by that faithful and painful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Christopher Love, late minister of Lawrence Jury, London. They being his last sermons. To which is added a funeral sermon, being the very last sermon he ever preached.Grace: the truth and growth and different degrees thereof. The summe and substance of XV. sermons. Preached by that faithful and painful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Christopher Love, late minister of Lawrence Jury, London. They being his last sermons. To which is added a funerall sermon, being the very last sermon he ever preached.
London: printed by E.G. for J. Rothwell, 1652
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
1. Though thy grace be but little in quantity, yet it is much in value. A pearl, though but little in substance, yet it is of great worth, so a little grace is of great value; The heart of a wicked man is nothing worth; you may have much knowledge, and seeming grace, but no true worth. A shop full of barrels will not make a man rich, unless those vessels be full of commodities: gifts as to heaven, are but the lumber of a Christian, it is grace that makes him rich towards God.
1. Though thy grace be but little in quantity, yet it is much in value. A pearle, though but litle in substance, yet it is of great worth, so a little grace is of great value; The heart of a wicked man is nothing worth; you may have much knowledge, and seeming grace, but no true worth. A shop full of barrels will not make a man rich, unlesse those vessels be full of commodities: gifts as to heaven, are but the lumber of a Christian, it is grace that makes him rich towards God.
2. Though thy grace be little for the present, yet it will grow for the future to a greater measure.1 The little grain of Mustard seed (the least of seeds) will in time grow up to a tree. Grace is fitly compared to leaven, which is of a spreading nature;2 to the cloud which the Prophets servant saw,3 and to the waters of the Sanctuary, 4which did all increase. An Infant of days shall proceed by degrees, till he become like the Ancient of days, perfect as his heavenly Father is perfect. 5Naturalists observe, that the seeds of the Cypress tree are very small, and yet of them proceeds a very high tree: Such is the birth and growth of grace.