2. Grace is known by the growth of it, growth evidenceth life. Dead things grow not; a picture will not grow; a hypocrite, who is but a picture of religion, doth not grow; a good Christian grows in love to Christ, in humility, in good works, Psal. xcii. 12. Hos. xiv. 5. "He shall grow as the lily, his branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon." When the Spirit of God distils as dew upon the soul, it makes grace flourish, and put forth into maturity.
3. True grace will make us willing to suffer for Christ. Grace is like gold, it will abide the "fiery trial," 1 Pet. i. 7. And if upon a serious scrutiny and trial we find that we have the right jewel, "the grace of God in truth," Col. i. 6. this will be a deathbed cordial; we may with Simeon, "depart in peace," being assured that though we can- not resist death, yet we shall overcome it.
Use 3. Direction. Let me lay down two or three directions for the attaininof of grace.
1st Direction. If we would be enriched with this jewel of grace, let us take pains for it; we are bid to make a hue and crv after knowledge, and to search for it, as a man that searcheth for a vein of gold, Prov. ii. 2, 3. Our salvation cost Christ blood, it will cost us sweat, 5 D
7G2
TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
2. Let lis go to God for grace; he is called *'the God of all grace," 1 Pet. v. 10. We could lose grace of ourselves, but we cannot find it of ourselves. The sheep can wander from the fold, but cannot return without the help of the shepherd; go to the God of all grace ; God is the first planter, the promoter, the perfecter of grace; God is the Father of lights, James i. 17. He must light up this candle of grace in the soul; grace is in his gift; it is not an impropriation, but a dona- tive: O then go to God in prayer, lay thy heart before him; Lord, I want grace; I want an humble, believing heart, and thou art "the God of all grace, all my springs are in thee." O enrich me with grace, deny me not this before I die: what is gold in the bag, if I have no oil in the lamp ? give me "that anointing of God." I read in thy word of "the fruits of the Spirit;" Lord, my heart is a barren soil, plant some of these supernatural fruits in me, that I may be more useful and serviceable; Lord, I cannot be put off with other things. Who wilt thou give grace to, if not to such as ask, and are resolved not to give over asking?
3. if you would have grace, engage the prayers of others in your behalf; he is like to be rich, who hath several stocks going; he is in the way of spiritual thriving, who hath several stocks of prayer going for him. If you had a child that were sick, you would beg the prayers of others; thou hast a soul that is sick, sick of pride, lust, "sick unto death;" O beg the prayers of godly friends, that God will heal thee with his grace; a ISIoses and Jacob liave much power with God: believers can prevail sometimes not only for themselves, but for their friends, Jumes v. 16. A godly man's prayers may
do you more good than if he should bestov upon you all his lands of inheritance.
4. If you would have grace, frequent the means of grace, lie at the pool of Bethesda, wait at the posts of wisdom's door. Inward grace is wrought by outward means; the preaching of the word is God's engine that he useth for working grace; it is called "the rod of his strength," Psal. ex. 2. and "the breath of his lips," Isa. xi. 4. By this he cause th breath to enter; out of this golden pipe of the sanctuary, God empties the golden oil of grace into the soul; the ministry of the gospel is called "the ministry of the Spirit," 2 Cor. viii. because the Spirit of God ordinarily makes use of this to work grace; this ministry of the Spirit is to be preferred before the ministry of angels.
Qiiest. Why is the word preached the ordi- nary means to convey grace? why not con- ference or reading?
Alls. The reason is, because God hath appointed it to this end, and he will grace his own ordinances, 1 Cor. i. 21. "it })leased God." What reason could be given why the waters of Damascus should not have as sovereign virtue to heal Naaman's leprosy as the waters of Jordan? only this, because the Lord did appoint and sanctify the one to this work, and not the other; if therefore we would have grace, let us wait where the manna falls, and there expect the dew of the Spirit to fall with manna; the power of God goes along with his word.
How should we ^
Sleidan saith there was a church in France formerly, which the Protestants called Para- dise; as if they thought themselves in para- dise while they were in the house of (too ; those ordinances should be our jxiradise which are " the power of God to saKation."
delight in ordinances!
THE TPvEES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BLOSSOMING, AND BRINGING
FORTH FRUIT.
Pini„ i. 1 1. " Being filled with the fruits of righteorisness which are hy Jesus Christ, unto tU
glory and praise of God"