[3. J As to your manner of learning, let it be saving, and such as tends to practice. It is not enough to make Christ our teacher by using his word, and looking for the direction of his Spirit, and to make the whole counsel of God our lesson; but also we must learn to a saving purpose, to put off the old man, to put on the new, and not to store the brain with knowledge so much as the heart with grace ; for to this end is the gospel given to us, not for science so much as practice, to make us better rather than wiser and more knowing.
Use 2. Another use is examination, to put us upon trial whether we do not, yea or no, ' turn the grace of God into wantonness.' A man may be right in doctrine, and yet the constitution of his spirit may be naught. Again, there may be a fond dotage on the name of Christ, and yet no real respect to him ; therefore it behoves us to search how the gospel works with us.
[1.] Are you not the better for the knowledge of it ? If you are not the better you are the worse. If you know Christ, and come short of the hour i of his grace, you know him in vain ; you make Christ and the gospel a useless thing. Compare 2 Cor. vi. 1 with Col. i. 6 : there is a ' receiving the grace of God in vain,' and a • knowing the grace of God in truth.' We receive it in vain when we are nothing the better for it ; and we receive it in truth when we feel the sweetness and power of it upon our hearts and consciences. Those that know the grace in truth are the more vigilant, more humble, more holy. They are more diligent, for the grace of God hath a mighty constraint to urge us to duty, 2 Cor. v. 14, 15 : more humble, nothing so melt- ing as grace, Zech. xii. 10 ; unkindness after so much grace as we have received in Christ is the great reason and cause of godly sorrow : more holy, nothing kindles such a rage and indignation against sin as grace doth : Ezra ix. 14, ' Should we again after such a deliverance,' &.C. ; nothing persuadeth by such powerful arguments to the practice of holiness as grace doth ; see Titus ii. 11-14. Therefore what are you the better ? If it worketh not thus, it is sad.
' Qu. ' power ' ?— Ed.
154 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 4.
2. Are you the worse sensibly for the knowledge of the gospel ?
First, Do you grow more careless and neglectful of duties, as if now there were not so much required of you ? The gospel never taught you that, hut your own corrupt hearts. It is true, the more Christ is preached, the more evangelical a man is in his duties ; his heart is taken off more from resting in them, he doth not pitch his hopes upon the tale or number of his duties, and he doth not perform them out of bondage, but more clearly, knowingly, comfortably, as upon gospel grounds ; but still he will be performing, as knowing that duties can never have too much of our care, and too little of our trust : in the gospel we have more help, therefore, in all reason, we should per- form more work. Well, then, to grow more lazy and less frequent in the worship of God, and the use of the means of grace, the more we are acquainted with God's grace in Christ, is to abuse grace, which was given us to make us more cheerful, not more slack and negligent.
Secondly, Less circumspect and wary in your conversations ; loose walking is an ill sign. Christ himself taught us to ' enter in at the strait gate, and to walk in the narrow way,' Mat. vii. 13, 14. When men seek more room and breadth for their lusts, they pervert the end of the gospel, for the gospel only showeth that the greatest sin is par- donable, but the least is not allowable. The world is much for a shorter cut to heaven ; but when you have done all, you will find that the good, old, long way is the nearest way home. Still we must ' make straight steps to our feet ;' mortify lusts, bridle vile affections, and keep close to rule. Sin is the same that ever it was ; and the law is the same ; and God is as holy, and as much delights in holiness, as ever he did ; we therefore must be as strict as ever. It is but a carnal liberty to have leave to be wanton, to be free to sin. Nature is very apt to hear in that ear, see 2 Peter ii. 18, 19, but grace counts it no privilege.
Thirdly, If less humble, still you are guilty. A man committeth sin and findeth no remorse, upon the pretence of God's free grace in par- doning ; this is still the wantonness which ariseth from the abuse of the gospel. God's children never loathe themselves more than upon the remembrance of mercy, Ezek. xxxvi. 31, never melted for sin more than when the warm beams of God's love thaw their hearts, that they should sin against a pardoning God, a gracious Father, a good Master, &c. Every mercy is a new stab at heart. Christ's look made Peter weep bitterly ; nothing affects them so much as grace.