A49244:509
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 12: XII. Sermon At Lawrence Jury, London. April 20, 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.
1. Grace will last when gifts are withering. Blazing Comets will fall when the Star never falls;1 a falling Star is no Star but only a Comet: So the hypocrites may have a great blaze of their gifts, and yet may fall like Comets that hover in the air. Grace is like a Star that keeps fixed in its orb; there is a great deal of difference betwixt a painted face and a natural complexion, the painted face will not always last, but natural complexion that will always remain. Gifts are put paint, the ornament of the creature, but true grace which is as the natural complexion that will remain.
1. Grace will last when gifts are withering. Blazing Comets will fall when the Star never falls;1 a falling Star is no Star but only a Comet: So the hypocrites may have a great blaze of their gifts, and yet may fall like Comets that hover in the aire. Grace is like a Star that keeps fixed in its orbe; there is a great deal of difference betwixt a painted face and a natural complexion, the painted face will not alwayes last, but natural complexion that will alwayes remain. Gifts are put paint, the ornament of the creature, but true grace which is as the natural complexion that will remain.
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2. Prize a little grace before much gifts,1 because gifts will leave thee short of heaven. Christ told the learned Scribe, that he was not far from the Kingdom of heaven, but alas, for all his gifts and learning, he fell short of heaven. Many will say to me, (said Christ) in that day, 2Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wondrous works. You see it is observable, these men might pretend to high and great gifts, and yet they to whom God opened the secrets of his Kingdom, against them he shut the gates of heaven.