3. Grace with all its noble operations: Grace in its utmost earthly perfection: quickening Grace: sanctifying Grace: saving Grace. This is without all peradventure deservedly desirable: We are by nature dead, and Grace quickens us: By nature in darkness, and Grace enlightens us: By nature Rebels, by Grace Children, Brethren of Christ, Heirs of a Kingdom, what not? Take Grace in the very flower and beauty of it, Full assurance of Heaven, when a soul doth assuredly believe in Christ, and is certainly persuaded, that all the promises, spiritual and temporal, shall be made good to a tittle: that the heart is comforted in all the riches of full assurance, which is a condition very rarely attained. Yet if you will believe an experienced man, he will tell you, that though in nothing he came behind the very chiefest Apostles, yet he is nothing, 2 Cor. 12.12. He knew whom he had believed, and that there was laid up for him a Crown of Glory. And yet he complains that he is got no further then a life of faith, ⟨p. 8⟩2 Cor. 5.7. We walk by faith and not by sense. He professeth that to be with Christ is far better, [Greek or Hebrew], much more better, Phil. 1.23. But perhaps you will say, this comes not up to the proof: Well then, to speak directly; could we abstract Grace from God, the soul would find as little satisfaction in Grace, as it doth in Sin; you shall see, that though the soul be under a distemper, not having such high and prizing thoughts of God, as at other times; yet when it begins to get from under that neglect, nothing on this side God himself, can give any satisfying satisfaction, Cant. 5.5. I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. Whether we understand by hands dropping with myrrh, actions anointed with the grace of the Spirit, or the grace of Christ which he left behind, as a sweet odour to allure her when he put in his hand; either, or both these, clearly show, that it is not Grace that will serve the turn, but the God of Grace that is sought after. Further yet, to enjoy Christ, barely to enjoy Christ, his Presence, his Teaching, his Prayers, and whatever you will name on this side the enjoying of God in him, it is nothing. Judas had a greater privilege this way, then we can any of us hope for;
3. Grace with all its noble operations: Grace in its utmost earthly perfection: quickning Grace: sanctifying Grace: saving Grace. This is without all peradventure deservedly desireable: We are by nature dead, and Grace quickens us: By nature in darknesse, and Grace enlightens us: By nature Rebels, by Grace Children, Bretheren of Christ, Heires of a Kingdome, what not? Take Grace in the very flowre and beauty of it, Full assurance of Heaven, when a soul doth assuredly believe in Christ, and is certainly perswaded, that all the promises, spiritual and temporal, shall be made good to a tittle: that the heart is comforted in all the riches of full assurance, which is a condition very rarely attained. Yet if you will believe an experienced man, he will tell you, that though in nothing he came behinde the very chiefest Apostles, yet he is nothing, 2 Cor. 12.12. He knew whom he had believed, and that there was laid up for him a Crown of Glory. And yet he complaines that he is got no further then a life of faith, ⟨p. 8⟩2 Cor. 5.7. We walk by faith and not by sense. He professeth that to be with Christ is far better, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, much more better, Phil. 1.23. But perhaps you will say, this comes not up to the proof: Well then, to speak directly; could we abstract Grace from God, the soul would finde as little satisfaction in Grace, as it doth in Sin; you shall see, that though the soul be under a distemper, not having such high and prizing thoughts of God, as at other times; yet when it begins to get from under that neglect, nothing on this side God himself, can give any satisfying satisfaction, Cant. 5.5. I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped with myrrhe, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrhe, upon the handles of the lock. Whether we understand by hands dropping with myrrhe, actions anointed with the grace of the Spirit, or the grace of Christ which he left behinde, as a sweet odour to allure her when he put in his hand; either, or both these, clearly shew, that it is not Grace that will serve the turn, but the God of Grace that is sought after. Further yet, to enjoy Christ, barely to enjoy Christ, his Presence, his Teaching, his Prayers, and whatever you will name on this side the enjoying of God in him, it is nothing. Judas had a greater priviledge this way, then we can any of us hope for;
