A49244:82
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.
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. Because many of Gods children have failed, and abated much of their goodness in bad places. How did Peter fall in the High Priests Hall; though when in good company he was zealous, yet there he denied Christ. So Abraham when he was in Gerar, and Isaac also, denied their wives: so Joseph in Pharaoh's Court, and learned the Court Oath, to swear by the life of Pharaoh. Hence God commands the children of Israel, not to mix themselves with the Heathens, lest they learn their manners and customs. Bad places are like bad air for zeal to breath in; as sheep amongst briars lose part of their fleece, so good men in bad company lose part of their goodness.1 As one scabbed sheep may infect a whole flock: so one root of bitterness may spring up and defile many.
1. Because many of Gods children have failed, and abated much of their goodnesse in bad places. How did Peter fall in the High Priests Hall; though when in good company he was zealous, yet there he denied Christ. So Abraham when he was in Gerar, and Isaac also, denied their wives: so Joseph in Pharaoh's Court, and learn't the Court Oath, to swear by the life of Pharaoh. Hence God commands the children of Israel, not to mixe themselves with the Heathens, lest they learn their manners and customs. Bad places are like bad aire for zeale to breath in; as sheep amongst brairs lose part of their fleece, so good men in bad company lose part of their goodnesse.1 As one scabbed sheep may infect a whole flock: so one root of bitterness may spring up and defile many.
2. Reas. Because it is a clear evidence of the sincerity of a mans goodness, to be good in a bad place. This shows thy grace to be grace indeed, when thou hast discouragements to be good, and then art holy; this is a demonstration that thou art sincerely good, and that thy goodness is not counterfeit and taken up upon any sinister and hypocritical end. It is good to be good with the good; but