Though your graces be as a spark of fire in the midst of an Ocean of corruption, yet the Lord will preserve and blow up 1that spark of fire, into a flame. It was the Priests Office in the time of the Law, to keep the fire in the Sanctuary from going out; and it is the Office of our Lord Jesus, as he is our High Priest, our Head, our Husband, our Mediator, for to blow up that heavenly fire that he hath kindled in any of our souls. His honour, his faithfulness, and his goodness is engaged in it, and therefore he cannot but do it; else he would loose much love and many prayers and praises, did he not cherish, preserve, and strengthen his own work in his own people. The faith of the Disciples was generally weak; as I have formerly showed you, and yet how sweetly doth the Lord Jesus 2carry it towards them? He was still a breathing out light, life, ⟨p. 80⟩and love upon them, he was still a turning their water into wine, their bitter into sweet, and their discouragements into encouragements, and all to raise and keep up their spirits. His heart was much in this thing, therefore says he, 'Tis necessary that I leave you, that I may send the Comforter, to be a comfort and a guide unto you. I will pour out my spirit upon you, 3that a little one may become a thousand, and a small one a strong Nation, and that the feeble may be as David, and the house of David as God, as the Angel of the Lord. That's a sweet 4Text, Isa. 65. 8. Thus saith the Lord, as the new wine is found in the Clusters, and one saith, destroy it not, for a blessing is in it, so will I do for my servants sake, &c. Oh! saith Christ (to the father) here are a company of weak Saints, that have some buddings of grace; Oh do not destroy it, father! there is a blessing in it, though it be but weak. The Genuine sense of the similitude I think is this, when a Vine being blasted, or otherwise decayed, is grown so bad, and so barren, that scarce any good Clusters of Grapes can be discerned on it, whereby it may be deemed to have any life, or of ever becoming fruitful again, and the Husband-man is about to grub it up, or cut it down to the ground: One standing by, sees here a cluster, and there a little cluster, and cries out, O don't grub up the Vine, don't cut down the Vine, it ha's a little life, and by good Husbandry it may be made fruitful.
Though your graces be as a spark of fire in the midst of an Ocean of corruption, yet the Lord will preserve and blow up 1that spark of fire, into a flame. It was the Priests Office in the time of the Law, to keep the fire in the Sanctuary from going out; and it is the Office of our Lord Jesus, as he is our High Priest, our Head, our Husband, our Mediator, for to blow up that heavenly fire that he hath kindled in any of our soules. His honour, his faithsulnesse, and his goodnesse is engaged in it, and therefore he cannot but doe it; else he would loose much love and many prayers and praises, did he not cherish, preserve, and strengthen his owne work in his owne people. The faith of the Disciples was generally weak; as I have formerly shew'd you, and yet how sweetly doth the Lord Jesus 2carry it towards them? He was still a breathing out light, life, ⟨p. 80⟩and love upon them, he was still a turning their water into wine, their bitter into sweet, and their discouragements into incouragements, and all to raise and keep up their spirits. His heart was much in this thing, therefore sayes he, 'Tis necessary that I leave you, that I may send the Comforter, to be a comfort and a guide unto you. I will poure out my spirit upon you, 3that a little one may become a thousand, and a small one a strong Nation, and that the feeble may be as David, and the house of David as God, as the Angel of the Lord. That's a sweet 4Text, Isa. 65. 8. Thus saith the Lord, as the new wine is found in the Clusters, and one saith, destroy it not, for a blessing is in it, so will I doe for my servants sake, &c. Oh! saith Christ (to the father) here are a company of weak Saints, that have some buddings of grace; Oh doe not destroy it, father! there is a blessing in it, though it be but weak. The Genuine sence of the similitude I think is this, when a Vine being blasted, or otherwise decayed, is growne so bad, and so barren, that scarce any good Clusters of Grapes can be discerned on it, whereby it may be deemed to have any life, or of ever becoming fruitful againe, and the Husband-man is about to grub it up, or cut it downe to the ground: One standing by, sees here a cluster, and there a little cluster, and cryes out, O don't grub up the Vine, don't cut downe the Vine, it ha's a little life, and by good Husbandry it may be made fruitfull.
- 1The tallest Oak was once •n A corn, & the deepest Doctor was once in his Horn-book.
- 2John 16. Acts 2.
- 3Isa. 60. 22.
- 4Zech. 12. 8.
