A. 3. If tbe kingdom of grace dotb not increase, it will decay, Rev. ii. 4., " Tbou bast left tby first love." Grace, for want of increasing, is sometimes like a winter- plant, all tbe sap runs to tbe root, and it looks as if it were dead, Rev. iii. 2., " Strengtben tbe things that remain, which are ready to die;" though grace cannot ex- pire, it may wither ; and a withering C'bris- tian loseth much of his beauty and fra- grancy. What great need then bave we to pray " thy kingdom come," that this king- dom of grace may be increased ? If grace be not im])roved, it will soon be impaired. A Cliristian, for want of increasing bis grace, loseth his strength ; he is like a sick raati, that cannot either walk or work ; his prayers are sick and weak, — be is as if he liad no life in bim, — his faith can hardly fetch breath, and you can scarce feel tbe pulse of bis love to beat.
A. 4. To have grace increasing is suitable to Christianity. Christians are " called trees of righteousness," Isaiah Ixi. 3. The saints are not only jewels for sparkling lus- tre, but trees for growth ; they are called tbe lights of the world, Phil. ii. 15. Light is still increasing. First there is tbe cre- pusciilum, or day-break, and so it shines brighter to the meridian. They who are the lights of the world must increase till tliev come to the meridian of glory. Not to grow is suspicious ; painted things grow not.
A. 5. As tlie kingdom of grace increas- etb, so a Christian's comforts increase. Comfort belongs to the be?ic esse, — or well- being of a Christian ; it is like sweetmeat, delicious to the taste, Ps. cxix. 103. Tlie more grace, tbe more joy. As the more sap in the root, tbe more wine in the grape. Who did more increase in grace than Da- vid ? And who more in consolation ? Ps. iv. 7., " Tbou bast put gladness in my
heart." Grace turns to joy, as milk to cream.
Quest. How may they he cowforted, irho bewail their lonnt of growth^ anrl weep that they cannot Jind the hivydom of grace increase ?
Ans. 1. To see and bewail our decay in grace, argues not only the life of grace, but growth. 'Tis a sign a man recovers and gets strength, when be feels bis weakness; it is a step forward in grace to see our im- perfections. The more tbe Spirit shines in the heart, the more evil it discovers; a Christian thinks it worse with him than it was, w^hereas his grace may not grow les- ser, but his liofht greater.
A. 2. If a Christian doth not increase in one grace, he may in another ; if not in knowledge, he may in humility. If a tree doth not grow so much in tbe branches, it may in the root ; to grow downwards in the root, is a good growth.
A. 3. A christian may grow less in affec- tion, Avhen ho grows more in judgment. As a musician when be is old, bis fingers are stiff, and not so nimble at the lute as they were, but he plays with more art and judg- ment than before ; so a Christian may not have so much affection in duty as at the first conversion, but be is more solid in re- ligion, and more settled in bis judgment than he was before.
A. 4. A Christian may think be dotb not increase in grace, because be doth not in- crease in gifts ; whereas there may be a de- cay of natural parts, the memory and other faculties, when there is not a decay of grace. Parts may be impaired, when grace is im- proved : be not discouraged, it is better to decay in parts, and be enlarged in grace, than to be enlarged in parts, and to decay
in grace.
A. 5. A Christian may increase in grace, yet not be sensible of it. The seed may grow in the earth, when we do not perceive it to spring up : the grace may grow in time of desertion, and not bo perceived. So I have done with the first thing intoudod in this petition, " thy kingdom come •" we pray that tbe kingdom of grace may come into our hearts, and that it may increase and flourish.
I should come to tbe second thing intend- ed in this petition, ' that the kingdom of
OF THE SECOND PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
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glory may liaston, and tliat we may in due time be translated into it.'
When we pray, " thy kinj^dom come," here is sometliing positively intended ; we pray, Isf. that the kinrjdom of fjrace may be set in our hearts; 2(1. that it may in- crease and flonrish ; 3(/. that the kingdom of jjlory may Iiasten, and that God would in Ids due time translate us into it.
1. What this kingdom of glory is.
2. What arc the properties of it.
3. Wherein it exceeds all other kingdoms.
4. AVhen this kingdom comes.
5. Wherein ai)pears the certainty of it.
G. Why we should pray for its coming.
First. What this kingdom of glory is.