A49244:421
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 10: X. Sermon At Lawrence Jury, London. April 13. 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.
4. In case of sickness and old age, and bodily weakness,1 He that hath strength of grace may yet want strength of affection. The expression of our affection depends much upon the temperature of the body, if ⟨p. 122⟩bodily strength and vigour be impaired, our affections must needs flag. As the ebbing and flowing of the sea depends upon the motion and influence of the Moon: So our affections do ebb and flow much what, as the strength or weakness of the body hath an influence upon them. As a Musician when he is grown old, cannot so dexterously handle an instrument, as when he was young, though perhaps he hath now more judgement and experience in music; so it is in old age, that brings experience in the ways of God, yet may abate affections. Old age and sickness makes the body like a tired horse to the active soul; an active traveller would fain ride away to his journeys end, but his horse is tired. An aged sickly Christian may have as much grace and more then ne had at first, and yet not be so able to pray; and so a Minister not so able to preach affectionately as before; and this from the indisposition of the body.
4. In case of sicknesse and old age, and bodily weaknesse,1 He that hath strength of grace may yet want strength of affection. The expression of our affection depends much upon the temperature of the body, if ⟨p. 122⟩bodily strength and vigour be impaired, our affections must needs flag. As the ebbing and flowing of the sea depends upon the motion and influence of the Moon: So our affections do ebbe and flow much what, as the strength or weaknesse of the body hath an influence upon them. As a Musician when he is grown old, cannot so dexterously handle an instrument, as when he was young, though perhaps he hath now more judgement and experience in musick; so it is in old age, that brings experience in the wayes of God, yet may abate affections. Old age and sicknesse makes the body like a tyred horse to the active soul; an active traveller would faine ride away to his journeys end, but his horse is tyred. An aged sickly Christian may have as much grace and more then ne had at first, and yet not be so able to pray; and so a Minister not so able to preach affectionately as before; and this from the indisposition of the body.