3. The third Caution is,1 though in every condition we must be content, yet we are not to content our selves with a little grace. Grace is the best blessing. Though we should be contented with a competency of estate, yet not with a competency of grace. It was the end of Christs Ascension to heaven, to give gifts, and the end of those gifts, that we may grow up into him who is the head, Christ*. Where the Apostle distinguisheth between our being in Christ, and our growing in him: our engrafting and our flourishing: be not content with a modicum in Religion. 'Tis not enough that there be life, ⟨p. 214⟩but there must be fruit. Barrenness in the Law was accounted a curse. The farther we are from fruit, the nearer we are to cursing*. 'Tis a sad thing when men are fruitful only in the unfruitful works of darkness. Be not content with a dram or two of grace; next to a still-borne, a starveling in Christ is worst. Oh covet more grace, never think thou hast enough; it is bona & honesta avaritia; we are bid to covet the best things*: it is an heavenly ambition, when we desire to be high in Gods favour; a blessed contention, when all the strife is who shall be most holy. Saint Paul, though he was content with a little of the world, yet not with a little grace; he reached forward, and pressed towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus*. A true Christian is a wonder, he is the most contented, and yet the least satisfied: he is contented with a morsel of ⟨p. 215⟩bread, and a little water in the Cruse, yet never satisfied with grace; he doth anhelare, pant and breath after more; this is his prayer, Lord, more conformity to Christ, more communion with Christ; he would fain have Christs image more lively pictured upon his soul. True grace is always progressive: as the Saints are called Lamps and Stars in regard of their light; so trees of righteousness *for their growth; they are indeed like the tree of life, bringing forth several sorts of fruit.
3. The third Caution is,1 though in every condition we must bee content, yet we are not to content our selves with a little grace. Grace is the best blessing. Though we should be contented with a competency of estate, yet not with a competency of grace. It was the end of Christs Ascension to heaven, to give gifts, and the end of those gifts, that wee may grow up into him who is the head, Christ*. Where the Apostle distinguisheth between our being in Christ, and our growing in him: our ingraffing and our flourishing: be not content with a modicum in Religion. 'Tis not enough that there be life, ⟨p. 214⟩but there must be fruit. Barrennesse in the Law was accounted a curse. The farther we are from fruit, the nearer we are to cursing*. 'Tis a sad thing when men are fruitfull onely in the unfruitfull works of darknesse. Be not content with a dram or two of grace; next to a still-borne, a starveling in Christ is worst. Oh covet more grace, never think thou hast enough; it is bona & honesta avaritia; we are bid to covet the best things*: it is an heavenly ambition, when wee desire to bee high in Gods favour; a blessed contention, when all the strife is who shall be most holy. Saint Paul, though he was content with a little of the world, yet not with a little grace; he reached forward, and pressed towards the marke of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus*. A true Christian is a wonder, he is the most contented, and yet the least satisfied: he is contented with a morsell of ⟨p. 215⟩bread, and a little water in the Cruse, yet never satisfied with grace; he doth anhelare, pant and breath after more; this is his prayer, Lord, more conformity to Christ, more communion with Christ; he would faine have Christs image more lively pictured upon his soule. True grace is alwayes progressive: as the Saints are called Lampes and Starres in regard of their light; so trees of righteousnesse *for their growth; they are indeed like the tree of life, bringing forth severall sorts of fruit.
- 1Caution. 3.
- *Eph. 4. 15.
- *Heb. 6. 8
- *1 Cor. 12.
- *Phil. 3. 13, 14.
- *Isa, 61. 3
