A49244:228
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.
Sermon 5: V. Sermon At Lawrence Jury, London. March 23. 1651.
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.
And therefore let Christians learn from, ⟨p. 66⟩God, to cherish the weak beginnings of grace in the people of God. Look not on me, saith the Church, because I am black, because the Sun hath looked upon me, i.e. look not on me with a lofty and disdainful look, and with a coy countenance; and then the Church adds, My mothers children were angry with me, that is, other Congregations and People did disesteem and disdain me for my infirmity.1 But this should not be amongst Christians, but the strong should cherish the weak. Angels despise not the poorest Christians, but do minister unto them.
And therefore let Christians learn from, ⟨p. 66⟩God, to cherish the weak beginnings of grace in the people of God. Look not on me, saith the Church, because I am black, because the Sun hath looked upon me, i.e. look not on me with a lofty and disdainful look, and with a coy countenance; and then the Church addes, My mothers children were angry with me, that is, other Congregations and People did disesteem and disdain me for my infirmity.1 But this should not be amongst Christians, but the strong should cherish the weak. Angels despise not the poorest Christians, but do minister unto them.
- 1Heb. 1. ult.
Learn from hence,1 how God doth by leisure and degrees, carry on in the hearts of his people the work of grace unto further perfection. Mushrooms and such like worthless things, like Jonah his gourd may spring up in one night; but things of most moment, are of longest growth before they come to perfection. The Elephant amongst the Beasts, and the Oak amongst the Trees, and Man amongst the rational creatures, are longest before they grow up to their full and perfect dimensions. And as it is in nature, so it is in grace; there is a progress from less to greater: all this work is by degrees. The godly are called Trees of Righteousness,