A49244:422
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.
3. Whence it is that those that have strength of grace,1 may yet want those strong affections which they had at their first conversion?
- 1Quest. 3.
1. Because at first conversion grace was but particularly employed,1 which afterwards was more diffused and generally employed. When much water runs in one Channel it makes the stream the stronger; but when there are many rivulets cut out, though there is as much and more water, yet there is not the same strength of stream: So it is at ⟨p. 123⟩our first conversion, all our affections made but up one stream, and so our affections seemed the stronger. A new convert hath not so many duties to perform as a grown Christian hath, because he doth not know so many duties. It may be at first all his affections run out to pray, and hear the Word, and read good books, and whilst all the affections run in this one channel they seem to be very strong; whereas a grown Christian he hath not only these general duties, but many particular duties of his calling and relations to follow, he hath many duties to perform to God and men, which a new convert knows not, and therefore it is that though his affections may seem weaker, yet his grace is as strong as before & stronger.
1. Because at first conversion grace was but particularly imployed,1 which afterwards was more diffused and generally imployed. When much water runs in one Channel it makes the stream the stronger; but when there are many rivulets cut out, though there is as much and more water, yet there is not the same strength of stream: So it is at ⟨p. 123⟩