A49244:383
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 9: IX. Sermon at Lawrence Jury London. April 6. 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.
5. To be content with measures of grace. How apt are they that have grace to say in one sense, as he said in another, Soul, take thine ease, 1thou hast goods laid up for many years; and hereupon many grow slack and careless in holy duties, and do not improve ordinances for the increase of their graces. The best of Christians are apt to fall into this satiety, then which nothing can be more prejudicial to the soul. The devil tempts those that have but a little grace to think they have none, and those that have more grace to think they have enough. The best are apt to mistake themselves in this, to think that there is a just dimension and full growth of grace attainable in this life: Whereas indeed the best improvement of having much grace, is to desire more, and not to be satisfied with any measure of grace till we come to a perfect man, 2unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, and that's not attainable in this life. Perfection is the aim of this life, but it is the reward of another life. We should endeavour after Perfection in grace, but we shall not attain it till grace be perfected in glory.
5. To be content with measures of grace. How apt are they that have grace to say in one sense, as he said in another, Soul, take thine ease, 1thou hast goods laid up for many years; and hereupon many grow slack and carelesse in holy duties, and do not improve ordinances for the increase of their graces. The best of Christians are apt to fall into this satiety, then which nothing can be more prejudicial to the soul. The devil tempts those that have but a little grace to thinke they have none, and those that have more grace to think they have enough. The best are apt to mistake themselves in this, to think that there is a just dimension and full growth of grace attainable in this life: Whereas indeed the best improvement of having much grace, is to desire more, and not to be satisfied with any measure of grace till we come to a perfect man, 2unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ, and that's not attainable in this life. Perfection is the aime of this life, but it is the reward of another life. We should endeavour after Perfection in grace, but we shall not attain it till grace be perfected in glory.