A49244:170
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.
3. Another low measure of grace is this; A sensible complaint of the want of grace. Thus he that came to Christ, and said with tears, Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief, he had grace.1 He doth not say, Lord help my faith, but Lord help my unbelief. His expression about his unbelief, did note not only his want, but his sensibleness of his want. This is that Poverty of Spirit, which hath the first place in the Beatitudes;2 this is the lowest round of the ladder. The Apostle tells us, That the Spirit helps our infirmities, in sighs and groans that cannot be uttered. 3Observe here, that it's not said the Spirit helps us with comforts and joys, but with sighs and groans, whence we may learn that the Spirits help is as well in sighs and groans, and sensible complaints ⟨p. 42⟩of our wants, as in holy ravishments. Strength of grace is seen in holy joys and ravishments of Spirit, but truth of grace may be seen & discerned in sighs, groans and complaints of our wants; they are said to be sighs and groans which cannot be uttered, not in regard of their greatness; but (as Master Perkins observes) in regard of their weakness.4 Gods children at first wanting ability to express their own thoughts. To be sensible of the want of grace is grace; for nature cannot make a man duly sensible of the want of grace, nor sensibly to complain of that want.
3. Another low measure of grace is this; A sensible complaint of the want of grace. Thus he that came to Christ, and said with teares, Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief, he had grace.1 He doth not say, Lord help my faith, but Lord help my unbelief. His expression about his unbelief, did note not onely his want, but his sensiblenesse of his want. This is that Poverty of Spirit, which hath the first place in the Beatitudes;2