Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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B08242
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Saints duty discoursed, from 2 Pet. 3. 18. and the saints dignity handled, from Eph. chap. 1. v. 7. with directions to both, delivered from a chatecheticall dialogue by him that was, and is ...
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our long trading to be richer wiser better So by our longer continuance under the breathings of the spirit in Gospell-dispensations shew ye your selves to have received an increase of more light life zeale love knowledge c. this is to grow in grace I conceive the grace in the Text is not that grace of graces free and perfect displaid upon a soule by the infinite riches of wonderfull mercy that admirable free full grace of Justification But by grace here the graces of Gods holy Spirit through the Word with power and life conveighed into the beleevers soule by the Holy Ghost which may therefore fitly be phrased the fruit of the spirit b Gal. 5.22 23. which are thus in Apostolicall account enumerated Love Joy Peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance These are graces of Gods Spirit and this grace in the Text includes the graces of this kind in which we must endeavour to grow to which knowledge is added in the verse even that distinct understanding of divine truths revealed in the Word concerning the knowing of God and Christ whom to know aright is not lesse then life eternall John 17.3 The summe is that little grace of Gods Spirit in thee thou must be sure to act that it increase more and more that as to men there is evident a growth in your body so to God and men you may make it apparent there is an increase in your soule in the gracious exercise of a conscience and conversation void of offence before God and man This I conceive with submission to better judgements the sence of the terme of the Text. I proceed to the point to be proved 'T is a Christians duty to grow in grace which growth may have a reference to the number of graces or to the measure of graces in respect of both we must grow This Paul adviseth Corinth d 2 Cor. 18.7 Therefore as ye abound in every thing in faith utterance and knowledge and in all diligence and in love to us see that ye abound in this grace also a bundle of beautifull excellencies are here collected And our Apostle in the first Chapter the fifth sixth and seventh verses And besides this give all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse charity An addition increase and growth of graces in the number Is not this intimated in the parabolicall History of the Lord and his servants concerning the expected increase of the talents in which the honouring Encomiums speaking them good and faithfull that increased and multiplyed their two to other two their five to ten with an euge well done good and faithfull servant thou hast been faithfull over a few things I will make thee ruler over much enter thou into thy Masters joy e Mat. 25.21 For the growth of the measure of grace grow in it hath not Christ given grace that wee should grow to a higher measure even to the perfecting of the Saint and come up to the measure of the stature of Christ the fulnesse of Christ f Eph. 4.13 for-which Paul greatly rejoyced hearing the faith of the Thessalonians grew so exceedingly and their charity toward each other so abounded g 2 Thes 1.3 to this Paul expects in the h 1 Thes 4.1 that as they had received of them that were dispensers of the Gospels-mysterie so they would walke in pleasing God and abound therein more and more as in the fore-mentioned place as man so God calls for more weight more measure to adde to the number and measure of grace grow Christians had need to looke to their growth Non est bonus qui non vult esse melior hee that hath no care for the growth of his grace will soone bring the truth of his grace into suspition by an Apostaticall revolt or Cork-like levity in being removed from or wavering in the first and best principles Need we have to grow in grace from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reas 1 The Lord hath more to bestow on thee than yet appears to be in thee what ever grace thou art enriched with God hath more yet in the granary of his goodnesse for a poor soule Think not thy selfe more than a broken Cistern plume not thy selfe to sing a Requiem to thy soule as if thou hadst grace holinesse righteousnesse knowledge enough bee not deceived whoever thou art endowed with an admired competency of gifts and graces yet you need more than yet you enjoy that great measure of knowledge is not the least of that you are ignorant of Should I say be yee warm'd and filled and give not that which is needfull for the body it would little profit should I preach grow in grace and not tell you God hath more for you than yet appeares in you lesse reason to be up and doing But God is an inexhausted Fountaine that both can and will bestow more upon every soule that truely desires the growth of grace Aske thy soule if it had not need be better stocked and more stirre up it selfe to lay hold on God if he wil not give further supply of grace and knowledge T is my happinesse I know in my need how to be furnished it shall bee my reason Therefore I le grow Therefore grow in grace The more Reas 2 grace the more strength The infusion of grace puts life and energy into the soule the addition of grace renewes the active faculties with greater strength that as of the heroick Champions enroll'd in the eleventh Chapter of the Hebrewes of weake by the grace of faith they became strong strong to an unmatchable power So by the growth of grace the soule that was wont to be as water becomes to be as strong as steele it selfe the Apostles witnessing the truth of this to the world The want of saving grace hinders the want of saving knowledge that enlightens emboldens when heaven afforded many an advantagious opportunity to satisfie thy darkened judgement doubting spirit let mee appeale if thou hast not returned home likewise as came out the sad experience of our owne heart dictates want of grace proudly kept backe that in many things we remaine as new-borne Babes poore weake Creatures The truth of grace O Christian quickens but the growth of grace strengthens thy soul that panoply of God makes the Saints strong the breathing of the spirit of grace makes a stripling more puissant than the Goliah's of the Nations 'T is recorded of Father Abraham being not weake in faith he staggered not at the promises of God but being strong in faith hee beleeved in hope even against hope i Rom. 4.20 21. Christians meet with Principalities Powers and the Rulers of the darknesse of this world a terrible army how shall a poore soule encounter with this maine body when onely the strength
Redemption in Christ knoweth it cost his precious bloud should hee live any longer to himselfe to his former sinnes hee easily understands hee detaines his soule and body from Christ the purchase of Christ hee resolves therefore henceforth to know no thing no person unrelate to Christ hee hath obtained his pardon his deportment shall be as Coheire with Christ and heire to God of eternall glory hee will live honourably Try if you so live and breath act and affect that your conversation may be sutable to your priviledge and all your endeavours answerable to this Princely prerogative the forgivenesse of sinnes Doest thou labour to exalt the Lord and magnifie Jesus Christ above sin creature selfe comfortable signes if not e contra Fourthly the soule pardoned walks more comfortably than ever A man long time confined to bed home or prison set free with what inward joy satisfactory content his soule is comforted experience can best expresse so a poore soule formerly plunged in ghastly feares and hellish apprehensions to dwell and live in everlasting darknesse for want of pardon Now the Lord by his Spirit sealing as full as free remission no stranger can intermeddle to relate his joy unspeakable and full of glory pardon and peace remission and consolation like Aaron and Hur hold up Moses hands support the pardoned soule Goe in peace and be of good comfort thy sinnes are forgiven thee bee frequent expressions of holy Writ When by pardon of my sinne my soule beholds it selfe once a farre of now nigh by the bloud of Christ how can I but rejoyce the feares sorrow trembling horrour because my sinnes were unpardoned dispell'd must needs create inward joyes unspeakable for that mine iniquities are forgiven Try what inward joy and consolation in some measure at some time Gods Word affords from Christ in whom thou hast redemption Thus for the tryall Thirdly 3 Use for Reprehension this serves to reprove such as cannot say in him wee have redemption hath not pardon beene tendred free full long as the sinne the doome must bee thine if no redemption by Christ thou art a Captive to the power of thy lust and a bond slave to the curse of thy sinne to an ingenuous spirit it is misery to bee a prisoner to a superiour deep calamity to bee subject to an equall but a slave to his drudge vexation high little comfort left for the gallantry of bravest spirits but this they are enthralled by men and in that little comfort too but to bee enslaved under Hels Darling Heavens scorne the soules everlasting shame and confusion sinne makes not onely the eare to tingle heart to tremble but dumbes because it doomes to that Lake which burnes with torturing fire and sulphurous brimstone whether the pains of sence or losse be sorest needs no determination either enough to fill a soul with the terror of black despaire well consider l Job 20.11 The thoughts of a resurrection speakes the soule glad to returne to dust againe But hoping better things of you precious soules I spare to reprove and passe to the fourth Use 4. Use of Comfort To all you that can say in any measure my Saviours bloud is my Redemption let your soules rejoyce and all within you blesse his name For First thou art blessed as the sweet Psalmist m Psa 32.1 in this happy enough happy in Gods account what if deprived of earthly contents and enjoyments yet thou hast remission forgivenesse that 's worth a thousand Worlds I deny not deare soule but that many have more of blessings without but thou hast that white stone that new name n Rev. 2.17 affording such a consolation within as may fill thy soule with joy ineffable and full of glory Secondly by this assured of Salvation it is the souls trouble the uncertainty of the reward so that it workes it out with little below feare and trembling the forgivenesse of thy sinnes distills with a sweet influence enlightning to salvation as by the heat I know the fire burnes by the light I know the Sunne shines by the pardon of my sinne I am confident of the salvation of my soule o Luk. 1.77 Thirdly in this comfort whatsoever God sends or suffers t is in mercy no affront from beneath no desertion from above no affliction without no temptation within but proceeds from a Father as well as from a God Jonathans Arrowes were shot for David as at David the tender Mother gives with a bitter Pill closely Sugar to sweeten so the Lord though hee sometimes answers with terrible things yet hee is the God of salvation take comfort therefore Fourthly God will sanctifie thee as well as justifie thee thou shalt be partaker of his Spirit as well as of his bloud I know thy soule longeth to bee sanctified it shall bee bee comforted where God pardons hee purges so runnes the Covenant p Ezek. 36.25 26 27. seconded by the Apostle John q 1 Joh. 1.9 Object But here a soule is ready to complaine there is nothing in me from me that I should hope of the Lords pardon to me Answ To this I Answer Hast thou not as much as God looks for what had the Infant the Churches Hierogliphicke r Ezek. 16. but bloud in it polluted defiled yet God pittied What had the Prodigall yet his Father freely pardoned and joyfully entertained him Feare not then for Christs sake the Lord will doe more than this in him there is Righteousnesse Grace Perfection Merit enough to redeem from Hell the nethermost Hell to save to save to the highest Heavens Hath not he offered himselfe a Sacrifice for sinne for ever and will not he for ever perfect them that are sanctified and will the Lord remember their sinnes and iniquities any more Å¿ Heb. 10.12 17. Be comforted therefore and if this will not serve let God himselfe answer such an objection made t Isay 43.22 23 24. Exhort I hasten to the last Use Labour to subscribe to this truth you that cannot say you have redemption through his bloud Meanes First labour for a forgiving heart and a remitting spirit doe as you would bee done unto is the Royall Law u Mat. 6.14 with that of w Mark 11.25 26. Secondly labour for a truely humbled spirit a throughly humbled soul so that Promise sealed to thee in the twelfth of Zacharie the latter end and beginning of the thirteenth Chapter Thirdly believe in Christ entertaine him in all his Truths his Promises exercise thy faith in spight of opposition and x Acts 10.43 A faire instance y Mark 2.4 5. Motives God will then bee one with you Mot. 1 the first Adam by his sinne lost you the second Adam by his merit regained you no more a stranger from God or the Covenant of grace his Royall Attributes are martialled while you are in the valley of teares to doe you good Mot. 2 This will make you passe through all difficulties whatsoever with comfort now thou fearest and art amazed loath to hazard this or ventare that for God or his Gospell and why I have not my sinnes pardoned were I sure of this went I through a valley of teares and shadow of death I would feare no evill but with Paul z Rom. 8.32 challenge all persons and things that thus you may remaine faithfull and with comfort wade through a sea of bloud labour for Redemption Lastly yee that can say with Paul in the Text We have redemption c. Love him live to him and to none but him let your Duties Mercies Graces Lives bee praise to Jesus Christ you need not question Gods love the favour of the royall breast is knowne by Mercy by Remission hath the Lord delivered mee from the power of darknesse and translated mee to the Kingdome of his deare Sonne and shall not his free grace bee magnified Praise the Lord O my soule and let all that is within mee blesse his holy Name for his Christ by whose bloud I have redemption the forgivenesse of my sins and let all that wish well to my soule for my soule say blessed be the Lord for ever and ever Amen FINIS