Containing the use and improvement of the second doctrine,
The invaluable Worth ofsaving Grace.
This is that mercy that gives fouls the highest pleaſure this world is acquainted with, or the ſtate of this mortalitycan bear; for letthe well-aſſured ſoul but conſider what it is affured of, Chrift, with the purchases of his blood. O what is this !
" I am my beloved's, and mybeloved is mine," Cant. ii. 16.
What a vital, raviſhing, over-powering efficacy isin that voice of faith! let it but look back a few years, and comparewhat itwas with what it is now ; it was afar off, it is nowmadenigh,
Eph. ii. 12, 13.
It was not beloved, butisnowbeloved, Rom. ix. 25, 26.
It hadnot obtainedmercy, but now hath obtained mercy, I Pet. ii. 10. Or let the aſſured foul look forward, and compare what it now is, and hath, with what it ſhortly ſhall be made, and put in poſſeſſion of :
Beloved, (faith the a- "
" poſtle) now are we the fons of God; but it doth not yet appear what we shall be: But we know that whenhe ſhall appear, we shall be like him, for we ſhall fee him as he is,"
I John iii. 2.
Iſay, letthe affuredſoulbut ſteep its thoughts,bymeditation, in theſe ſubjects, and it will be impoſſible to keep him from themoſt agreeable tranſports of joy and delight.
Owhat alifehaveyou in compariſon of other men ? Some have two hells, one preſent, another coming; you have two heavens, oneinhand, the other in hope.
Some of your own - brethren in Chriſt, that have been, it may be, many years pantingafter aſſurance, are ſtill deniedit; butGodhath indulged fo peculiar a favour toyou.
Bleſs ye the Lord, and make his praiſeglorious.
CHAP.
III.
Containing the use and improvement of DOCT.
II.
That truegrace is exceeding precious, andgreatly enricheth thefoul that hathit : It is Chrift's gold.
SECT .
HE Lord Jeſus here chuſeth the moſt pure, precious, TH reſplendent, durable, and valuable thing, inallthetreafuries and magazines of nature, to ſhadow forth ſavinggrace, which is infinitely more excellent : Certainly that mustbe the R2
The invaluable Worth of Saving Grace. best thing, which the best things in nature canbut imperfectly ſhadow forth.
What was the golden oil emptied through the twogoldenpipes, Zech. iv. 12. butthe precious graces ofGod, flowing through Chrift, into all his members : Gold is precious; but one drachm of ſaving grace is more precious than all thegold of Ophir : " Itcannotbe gotten for gold, neither ſhall
" ſilver beweighed for a price thereof," Job xxviii. 15. Sure ly gold and ſilver, ſapphires, diamonds, and rubies, are not worth the mentioning, when ſaving grace is once mentioned.
For confider it, 1. First, In its cauſe and fountain from whence it flows, and you ſhall find it to be the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. v. 22. who, upon that account, is called the Spirit of grace, Heb. x. 29.
It derives its original from the Most High ; it is fpirit born of Spirit John iii. 6
All the rules of morality, all human dili gence and induſtry can never produce one gracious habit or act alone ; 2 Cor. iii. 5. " Not that we are fufficientof ourselves," c.
Nay,weſpeaknotbecomingtheincomparableworth ofgrace, whenwe lay, itis the fruit and birth of the Spirit ; for fo are common gifts alfo.
There are ſeveral emanations from this fun, divers ſtreams from this fountain ; but of all his operations and productions, this of ſaving grace is the moſt noble and excellent.
Gifts are from the Spirit as well as grace, but grace is more excellent than the beſt gifts, 1 Cor. xii 31. " Covet earneflly the beſt gifts, and yet thew I unto you a more excel- " lent way."
Hence you read in Phil.i. 10. "Of things that " are excellent," or as the original, τα διαφεροντα, mightbe rendered, things that differ, namely, in respect of excellency, not asgoodand evil, but as leſs good and moregood differ. Gifts have their value and precioufness, but the beſt gifts differ as much from grace, as brats fromgold, though both be generated by the influence of the ſame ſun.
Gifts (as one faith) aredead graces but graces are living gifts; itis the moſt excellent production of the highest and molt excellent cauſe.
2. Secondly, Confider it in its nature, and you will find it divine, 2 Pet. i. 4. " Partakers of the divine nature," viz. in our fanctification ; not that it gives us the properties of the divine nature, theyare incommunicable; butthe ſimilitude and reſemblance of itis ſtamped upon our fouls, in the work of grace.
" Thenewman is renewed inknowledge, after the image of him that created him," Col. iii. 10. The ſchoolmen, and fome of the fathers, place this image or refemblance ofGod,
The invaluable Worth of Saving Grace.
in the natural faculties of the foul, viz. the understanding, memory, and will ; which is an umbrage of a trinity inunity; but it rather conſiſts in the renovation of the faculties bygrace ; for in this we bear thedivine image upon our souls, and that image or reſemblance ofGod in holiness is the beauty and honourof our fouls.
It is theirbeauty : " How fair, and how pleasant art thou, " O love, for delights !" faith Chriſt of his people, Cant. vii.
Natural beauty conſiſts in the symmetry and comely proportion of parts each with the other; ſpiritual beauty in the harmony or agreeableness of our fouls toGod: and as it is our chiefeſt beauty, ſo certainly it is our highest honour ; for it givesus acceſs untoGod, who is the fountain of honour and glory; and this makes the righteous more excellent than his neighbour ; let his neighbour be what he will, though the blood of nobles run inhis veins, the righteous is more excel. lent thanhe, except ſaving gracebe alſo diffuſed into his foul.
3. Thirdly, Conſider it in its recipient ſubject, and you will find its value ſtill to increaſe ; for the precious oil of favinggrace is never pouredinto anyother thanan elect veffel.
Hence faith, one branch of fanctification, is, with reſpect to its ſubject, ſtiled Thefaith ofGod's elect, Tit. i. 1. Whosoever
-finds true grace inhis foul, may(during the evidence thereof) from it ſtrongly conclude his election, looking backward, and his falvation, looking forward, Rom. viii. 30. It marks and ſeals the perſon in whom it is, for glory, " God hath fet apart
" him that is godly for himself," Pfal. iv. 3 .
4. Fourthly, View the precious worth of grace in its excellent effects and inquences upon the foul in which it inheres.
(1.) Itadorns with incomparable ornaments, which are of great price in the fight ofGod, 1 Pet. iii. 4.
Yea, it reflects ſuch beams ofglory in the foul where its feat is, that Chrift himself, the author, is alſo the admirer of it ;
Cant. iv. 9.
" Thou hast raviſhed my heart, my fiſter, my ſpouſe ! thou " haft raviſhed my heart with one of thine eyes, with one of " the chains of thy neck !" and as one overcome with its excelling beauty, he faith, " Turn away thine eyes from me, for " they have overcome me," Cant. vi . 5.
(2.) lt. elevates and enobles a man's ſpirit beyond all other principles inman; it fets the heart and affections uponheaven, and takes them up with the glory of the inviſible world, Phil . iii. 20. "But our converſation is in heaven, from whencewe
" look for the Saviour "
Whilſt others are tradingfor corn and wine, for theep and oxen, for feathers and trifles, thegraciou
The invaluable Worth ofJaving Grace.
" foul is trading withGodforpardonand peace, forrighteoufneſs andlife, for glory and immortality :
Truly our fellow- " ſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt,"
John i. 3.
(3.) Itdoth notonlyraiſe the ſpiritbyconverfing withGod, and things above, but transforms the foul, by that converſe, intothe likeness of thoſeheavenly objects it converſeth with ;
" Itchanges them into the ſame image," 2 Cor. iii. 18.
So thatthough theſanctifiedman ſtill remains the who hewas, yet notthe what he wasbefore; the very temper of his ſpirit is altered.
(4.) It doth not only transform the ſoul in which it is, but preſervesthe ſubject in which it is: it is a fingular preſervative from fin; ſo that though finbe in them ſtill, and works in them ſtill, yet itcannotprevail in them ſtill to fulfil the lufts of it, as it was wont to do, Gal.v 17.
Sin conceives, but cannotbring forth fruit unto death; this gives a miſcarrying womb.
(5.) Itdoth not only preſerve it from fin,butgrace eſtabliſheth the foul, inwhom it is, far beyond any other arguments without, or anyother principles within aman. " It is a good
" thing that the heart be eſtabliſhed with grace." Heb . xiii, g.
This is thatwhich the apoſtle calls our own ftedfaſtneſs, or that ballaſt we have within ourſelves ; which keeps us right and ftable. O the excellency of grace !
(6 ) To conclude; it is the root of all that precious fruit which we bring forth toGod in this world: it is the root of everygracious word in our lips, and of every gracious work in ourhands: be the matter of ourgracious thoughts never fo
Excellent, the matter of our heavenlydifcourſes and prayers never ſo ſweet, ſtillgrace is the root of the matter, Job xix.
28. O then what aprecious thing is grace !
5. Fifthly, View it in itsproperties, andyou will fooner cover its tranſcendent excellencies : the richest epithets are no
hyperboles here; we ſeak not beyondthe value of it, whenwe call it fupernatural grace, for ſo it is: it comes down from above, from the Father of lights, Jam. i. 7.
Nature can neverbe improved to that height, how much foever its admirers boast of it: nordowe ſtrain toohigh, whenwe call itimmortal grace; for fo hathGodmade it.
This is that water which fprings up in the ſanctified foul untoeternal life, John iv. 14.
Itwill notdie whenthou dieſt, but aſcend with the soul from which it is infeparable, and be received up with it into glory,
Rom. viii. 10.
You may outlive your friends; you mayout-
The invaluable Worth ofSaving Grace.
Liveyour eſtates ; you may outlive your gifts ; but you cannot outliveyour graces.
Shall I ſay it is themoſt ſweetandcomfortablethingthatever the foul was acquainted with in this world, next Jeſus Chriſt, the author and fountainof it.
Sure, if ſol ſpeak, I have as manywitneſſes to atteſt it, as there be gracious fouls in the world : nothing ismore comfortable than grace, except Chrift ; andyet without grace no foul can feel the comforts of Chriſt, inthetroublesof life, or inthe ſtraits ofdeath. This is a ſpring of comfort!
6. Sixthly, Conſider itin itsdeſign and ſcope; andyou will till difcern more andmore of its precious excellency : forwhat istheaim and endofGod in the infuſions and improvements of grace, but to attemper and mould our ſpirits by it, into a meetneſsand fitneſs for the enjoyment of himself intheworld to come ?
Col. i. 12. "Giving thanks to the Father, who "hath made us meet to be partakers ofthe inheritance of the " faints inlight." Compare this with 2 Cor. v. 5. "Now he
"thathath wrought us for the ſelf-fame thing isGod."
Obleſſed deſign ! howprecious muſt that work be,which is wrought for fo high and glorious a purpoſe as this is ? Nowork more excellent, noendmore noble.
7. Seventhly, Conſider the means and inftruments,both principal and fubordinate, employed in this work : many bleſſed inftruments are ſet on work tobeget, conſerve, and improve it in our fouls; andtheſe allſpeak the preciousworth of it. No wife manwilldigfor abaſe and worthless metal with golden mattocks. The blood of Chriſt was ſhed toprocure it, Heb. xiii. 12.
The Spirit of God is fent forth to form and create it; for it ishis ownworkmanship, Ephef. ii. 10. his fruit, Gal. v. 22.
The ordinances and officers of the goſpel were at firſt inſtituted, and ever since continued in the church, for this work's fake, John xvii 17. and Eph. iv. 12.
It is the fruit of Chriſt's blood ; yea, and it hath coſt the ſweat and blood of the difpenfersof the goſpeltoo.
Nay, all the works of providence look this way, and aim at this thing, Rom . viii. 28.
What is the errand ofallGod'srods, but to make us partakers of his holiness Heb.xii. 10.
8. Eighthly, The high value that the moſt highGod ſetsupongrace, thews it to be an excellentthing indeed :
Itisof " greatprice in his fight, "
Pet. iii. 4. no ſervice finds acceptationwithGod, but what is performed by grace: None bue fanctifiedveſſelsare meet for the maſter'suse. " Theend ofthe
The invaluable Worth ofsaving Grace.
" commandmentis charity outof apure heart," 1 Tim. i. f.
The weakest performances of grace find acceptance with hìm, thongh clogged with many finful weakneſſes and infirmities, Heb. xi 31, 32.
IfGodſo prize it, well may we : thatmadethe jewel, beſt underſtands the valueof it.
He 9. Ninthly, The hypocritical pretences made to it all over the profeffing world, thew what a moſt precious and defireable thing itis: If there were not fome fingular glory in it, why doth every one covet to be reputed gracious ? Nay, the devil himſelf baits many of his hooks of temptation with a ſhew of grace; for heknows fin hath nonative beautyof its own to entice, and therefore he borrows the paintand pretence of ho lineſstocover it but, oh ! what a dilemma will the hypocrite be pofed with at last ? And how can he answer it when God ſhall demand ?
If grace were evil, why didſt thou affect the name and reputation of it ? And if it were good, why didſt thou fatisfy thyſelf with the empty nameand ſhadow of itonly ?
10. Tenthly, To conclude: the incomparable eſteem that all good men have for it, ſhews it to be a thing of inestimable price.
Grace is the fum of all their prayers, the ſcope of all their endeavours, the matter of their chiefjoy, the reward of their afflictions and fufferings; their chiefjoys andforrows, hopes and fears in this world, are takenup about it.
By all which it appears that its price is above rubies; and all the gold and filver in the worldare butdung anddroſs in comparisonwithit.
:SECT.
II.
Containing fix practical inferences from this precious truth.
Infer. 1. Is faving grace more precious than gold ? Let them that have it, bless God for it, and not braft.
Mens hearts are as apt topuff up and ſwell with ſpiritual, as withmaterial gold: It is hard to be an owner of,much of this gold, and not be lifted up with it.
To keep down thy heart, and preſervethine eyes from beingdazzled with theſe thyglorious excellencies, it willbe needful for thee, Chriftian, fometimes toconfider, That althoughgracebe one of the moſt excellent things that everGod created, yet it is but a creature, a dependent thing,
1 Cor. v. 17.
Yea, it is not only a creature, but avery imperfect creature yet inthyfoul, labouring under manyweakneſſes, Phil. iii. 12. and fometimes ready to die, Rev. iii. 2.
Practical Inferences from the preciousness of Grace.
Though it candomanythings foryou, yet it cannot justify you before God: You cannot make agarmentof ittocover your guilt, nor plead the dignity of it at God's bar for your diſcharge: It is not your inherent, but Chriſt's imputed righteouineſs muſt do that for you, though in other reſpects it be veryneceſſary.
Nay, remember how excellent ſoever itbe, it is not the nativegrowth and product of your hearts ; all the grace you have is foreign to your natures; and what you have is received,
1 Cor. iv. 7.
And, laſtly, rememberhe that is moſt proud and conceitedof his own graces will be foundto be the owner of leaſt grace,
It andhath moſt cauſe to queſtion whether he hath anyor no. isthe nature of grace to humble, abaſe, and empty the foul ; and it is the ſtrength of ourcorruptions which thus puffs usup with vain conceits.
Infer. 2. Is ſaving grace moreexcellent than gold ? What causethenhave the poorest Christians to be wellfatisfied with their lot? To othersGodhath given Ishmael's portion, the fatneſs of theearth; toyou Ifaac's, thegracesofthecovenant : Their portion is paid inbraſs, yours in gold.
Many of you are poor intheworld, but " rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom " which God hath promiſed," Jam. ii. 5.
What is the duſt of the earth to the fruits of the Spirit ? You are troubled that youhave nomore of the world :
It may be if you had more gold, youwouldhave leſs grace.
You confider nothowmany are poor and wretched in bothworlds, moneyless and Chriſtleſs too : Youdo not conſider you are near come tothat ſtate, in which all your wantswillbe fully ſupplied; where you ſhall not needthe treasures of the earth, and haveyour defires ſatisfied out of the treaſures of grace andglory.
Infer. 3. Is ſavinggrace gold ? yea, infinitely more precious thangold?
Then furely declining Christians are great losers, andhave cause to be great mourners. The remiffion of the leaſtdegree of grace, is more tobe lamented than the loss of thegreatest ſum of gold.
Though the habits of gracebenot loſt, yettheacts ofgrace maybe fuſpended, 2 Sam. xii. 31. Thedegrees of grace may be remitted, Rev. iii. 3. The evidences ofgracemaybe clouded, and conſequently the comforts of grace maybe ſuſpended,
Ifa. 1. 10. and theleaft of theſe isſuch a loſs, as all the treasures oftheearthcannot repair.
Well therefore maydeclined Chri-
VOL . VII.
Practical Inferencesfrom thepreciousness ofGracc. ſtians challenge the firſt place among all the mourners inthe world.
Infor. 4.
Is grace ſo invaluably precious ?
Howprecious then ought the ordinances of God to be to our fouls, by which grace isfirst communicated, and afterwards improved in our fouls! " The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thou- *" fands of gold and filver," Pfal. cxix. 72. and good reaſon, whilft it imparts and improves that towhich gold and filver are butdroſs anddung.
None but theſe that value not grace, will ever flight the means, or deſpiſe and injurethe inſtruments thereof.
It is a fad fign of a graceleſs world, when theſe precious things fall undercontemptsand lights .
Infer. 5. Ifgracebeſoprecious,howwatchful ſhould all graciousperfonsbe inthedays oftemptation! Thedeſign of temptation istorob you of your treaſure: When cut-purſes get into the croud, we uſe to ſay, Friends, look to your puries.
How many brave Chriſtians have we read and heard of, that have rather choſen to part with their lives, than with their graces, who have " reſiſted untoblood, ftriving againſt fin?"
Heb. xii. 4.
O, Chriſtians ! you live ina cheating age; many ſeeming Chriftians have loſt all, and many real Chriſtians have loft much; fomuch, that theyare like to fee but little comfort in thisworld; who are like to go mourning to the grave with that lamentation, Job xxix. 2, 3. " O that it were with me as in times
" paft !"
Infer. 6. To conclude: Is there fuch precious worth in favinggrace ?
Then blejs Godfor, and diligently use all means to increase and improve it in your fouls.
It is gold for precioufneſs, and for usefulness, and muſt notbe laid up in a napkin:
That is a fin condemned by the very ſcope of that parable, Matth. xxv. 14, 15.
All Chriftians indeed have not the fame advantages of improvement; but allmuſt improve it according to the advantages theyhave, in order to an account. Referved Chriſtians, whe live too abſtracted from the ſociety and communion of others, anddifperfe not their ſtreams abroad to the benefit of others, nor improve the graces of others for their own benefit, are wanting both to their own duty and comfort.
See you aman rich in grace, O trade with him if you can, to improve your ſelves by him ; andthe rather, becauſeyouknow nothow foon deathmay ſnatch him from you, and withhim all his ſtock of grace is gone from you too, except what you madeyour own