A49244:511
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.
3. Do not mistake strength of gifts to be strength of grace.1 Parents would not judge their children strong when their heads and breasts are big, and their feet but feeble; so you may grow big in your heads, in notions and speculations, in gifts, and yet feeble in practice of grace. Now that you may not mistake your selves, and may not be deceived; I'll show you how you may know the difference betwixt those that have strong gifts, and those that have strong grace. In the general take this: As Art resembles nature, so gifts resemble grace. Now there are four differences.
3. Do not mistake strength of gifts to be strength of grace.1 Parents would not judge their children strong when their heads and breasts are big, and their feet but feeble; so you may grow big in your heads, in notions and speculations, in gifts, and yet feeble in practice of grace. Now that you may not mistake your selves, and may not be deceived; I'le shew you how you may know the difference betwixt those that have strong gifts, and those that have strong grace. In the generall take this: As Art resembles nature, so gifts resemble grace. Now there are four differences.
- 13. Cant.
1. As grace strengthens, corruption weakens.1 It is with grace and lusts as it was with the house of Saul and the house of David. As Davids house grew stronger and stronger, so Sauls house grew weaker and weaker. As the Ark was set up, Dagon was thrown down; the Dagon of corruption will be thrown down before the Ark of grace, and ⟨p. 154⟩the Ark of the Covenant; But gifts may strengthen, and yet corruptions never the weaker. Indeed gifts discover corruption, but we are not able to mortify and subdue it. Gifts discover many corruptions, but mortify none. Gifts take a cognizance of many a sin, but never put a period to any. Men that have gifts are resembled to the Moon, and men that have grace are resembled to the Sun; the Moon hath an influence upon the water to make that move; to ebb and flow: the Moon sheds light upon all creatures, but no heat, to make those creatures grow and spring: So a man of gifts may have light, but no heat to those gifts to make grace to grow, and make sin to fade and wither. Gracious men are like the Sun, that doth not only give light but heat, by the influence thereof things spring and grow out of the earth;