But why is it that still the Lord worketh in us, both to will and to do, unto the last ; and not only begins with us, but still keeps grace in his own hands, so as we shall have our supplies from heaven from day to day ?
There are several reasons : —
[1.] Because it endeareth God to a gracious soul. The more visits
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we have from God, and the more he is mindful of us at every turn, the more is God endeared to us. In such a duty, there we met with comfort and enlargement, because God was there ; that is noted and regarded, so that the Lord is rendered the more precious. The ex- periment we have of God in every duty doth the more make us prize his grace. As David, Ps. cxix. 93, ' I will never forget thy precepts, for with them thou hast quickened me.' I shall never forget such a sermon, and such a prayer, because there I met with God. So in affliction, Rom. v. 3, 'Patience worketh experience;' or in such a conflict, we had such a support : this endeareth God to the soul. As mutual acts of kindness do maintain a friendship between man and man, so do these renewed acts of love, and of God's care and kindness over us, maintain a friendship between God and us.
[2.] It engageth us to a constant dependence upon God, and com- munion with him. It is dependence which maintains the commerce between heaven and earth. Now, if we did keep the stock ourselves, God and we should soon grow strangers. When the prodigal had his portion in his own hands, he goes out of his father's house : Luke xv. The throne of grace would lie neglected and unfrequented. If we did not stand in need of daily receivings, when would the Lord hear from us ? And therefore, to oblige us to a constant dependence, God will keep the grace in his own hands, that ever we may have some- thing to drive us to himself, some necessities upon us ; for the throne of grace is for a time of need : Heb. iv. ] 6.
[3.] This is that which keeps us humble, and that upon several con- siderations. All we have, it is by gift ; and then what can we be proud of ? Not only the habits of grace themselves, but also those actual incitements which are necessary to draw them forth into act. So tbat of all our excellencies we may say, Alas ! it is but borrowed ; and if we be proud of them, we are but proud we are more in debt than others : when most enlarged and most assisted, it is from God. We would laugh if a groom should be proud of his master's horse and his master's cloak; shall we usurp that honour that is due to God ? ' What hast thou that thou didst not receive ? ' 1 Cor. iv. 7. And then we have it from hand to mouth. That which we have re- ceived will not bear us out, unless God come in with new influences of grace. We should soon grow proud if God did not direct us, and give out the renewed evidences of his love day after day; and we should not acknowledge our benefactor if God should do all at once : therefore he lesseneth and weakeneth our corruptions by degrees, and by the renewed influences of his grace ; and by this means we are made sensible of the mutability of our own nature. God left Heze- kiah, ' to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart,' 2 Chron. xxxii. 31. God hath so dispensed grace that_ he will be going and coming as to actual influence ; therefore sometimes he will leave us, that he may discover a man to himself Though we have grace planted in our hearts, and are renewed, yet if God leave us, how weak and foolish are we ! We are renewed, but not fully recovered of that maim and bruise we got by the fall of Adam, and we cannot do_ as we will. If God withdraw his quickening, his strength, secret corruption will break forth, and our indisposition to holy things will soon appear.
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[4.] Then it is for the honour of the Lord's grace. It doth abun- dantly provide for the glory of grace, that from first to last we are indebted to God ; not only for those permanent and fixed habits which constitute the new creature, but for those daily supplies without which the motions of the spirit are at a stand. And this is that which makes the saints still to put the crown upon grace's head. When the servants gave an account of improving of their talents, saith one of them, Luke xix. 16, ' Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds :' he doth not say, ' My industry,' but, ' thy pound.' So Paul , Gal. ii. 20, 'I live;' yea, but he interposeth presently, 'Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.' They are ever ascribing all to God, because they see they can do nothing without him. When we come to heaven, it is a question which we shall admire most, grace or glory, the glory of that estate into which we are brought, or else grace, which was the foun- dation of it. Oh, when we see all that was done and suffered for God, it was from God : ' Of thine own have we given thee.' How will the soul admire the riches of his glorious grace ! We have not only traded with his money, but by his direction ; and when our stock was embezzled he supplied us at every turn. For these ends the Lord still keeps grace in his own hands, that we can do nothing to any pur- pose unless he be pleased to concur, by the influences and quickenings of his own Spirit.