A49244:464
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 11: XI. 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. Another sin that God punishes in his children, by withholding comfort from them that are strong in grace, is their superciliousness, contempt and uncompassionatenesse towards others that are but weak in grace. God own people are very much to blame herein, in rigour and unmercifulness towards those that are weak in the faith, despising all that are inferior to them in gifts and graces, whereby they often break the bruised reed, and quench the smoking flax, and want bowels of pity and tenderness towards their brethren. To take down pride, God often brings such, even his own people, ⟨p. 136⟩to be low in comfort; and it is but just that they should want comfort, who have neglected to comfort and cherish those that were weak in grace.
3. Another sin that God punishes in his children, by withholding comfort from them that are strong in grace, is their superciliousnesse, contempt and uncompassionatenesse towards others that are but weak in grace. God own people are very much to blame herein, in rigour and unmercifulnesse towards those that are weak in the faith, despising all that are inferiour to them in gifts and graces, whereby they often break the bruised reed, and quench the smoaking flax, and want bowels of pitty and tendernesse towards their brethren. To take down pride, God often brings such, even his own people, ⟨p. 136⟩to be low in comfort; and it is but just that they should want comfort, who have neglected to comfort and cherish those that were weak in grace.
4. A growing cold and lazy, and heedless in holy duties. If we put off God without true service, God may justly put us off without true comfort. This rule holds in spiritual affairs, He that will not work shall not eat. If we abate in the sanctifying work of the Spirit, it is but just that God withhold the comforting work of the Spirit. The sluggard saith Solomon, hath poverty enough, so if we grow lazy and sluggish in holy duties, it is just that our stock of comfort do decay. Though holy duties do not merit comforts, yet comfort usually riseth and falls according to our diligence in duties. True grace is never so apparent to, and sensible in the soul, as when it is in action; and therefore want of exercise must needs cause want of comfort. As fire in the flint is never seen or felt, till it be struck out by the Steel: so is grace and the comfort of grace, never so sensible as when it is exercised much in holy duties.