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…

2. You are not to measure the strength of grace by the length of your Profession.¹ Many who are long standers in the Profession of Religion, are but slow walkers in the ways and practice of Religion; the souls Proficiency in grace, is not the issue of length of time, but the fruit of free grace. There were those in the Church for so long a time, that they ought to have been teachers of others, ²but they had attained but little growth or strength of grace. They that came at the eleventh hour had their penny, as well as those that came early into the Vineyard. The scope of which Parable is (as some interpreters say) to show that those who come late to the Profession of Religion,³ may yet out-go many in gifts and graces, who have been long before them in Profession. How many ⟨p. 87⟩amongst us, their years speak them eighty, but their knowledge and grace not eighteen.

2. You are not to measure the strength of grace by the length of your Profession.¹ Many who are long standers in the Profession of Religion, are but slow walkers in the wayes and practice of Religion; the souls Proficiency in grace, is not the issue of length of time, but the fruit of free grace. There were those in the Church for so long a time, that they ought to have been teachers of others, ²but they had attained but little growth or strength of grace. They that came at the eleventh houre had their penny, as well as those that came early into the Vineyard. The scope of which Parable is (as some interpreters say) to shew that those who come late to the Profession of Religion,³ may yet out-go many in gifts and graces, who have been long before them in Profession. How many ⟨p. 87⟩