Vers. 3, 4.] sermons upon matthew xxy. 345
distant one from another, so these operation may seem near together, when in bottom and root they much differ. These motions argue God's Spirit working on them, not dwelling in them. Actuated they are with the Spirit of Christ assisting, but not reforming ; as an angel sometimes appears in an assumed body. But it is dangerous to rest in this ; it maketh our sin and judgment the greater if after a taste we rest in a common work. Historical faith, if not growing into a saving sound faith, it is a kind of mocking of God, and a hypocrite's portion. As for instance, we profess to believe him omniscient, yet fear not to sin in his presence ; omnipotent, yet cannot depend upon his all-suffi- ciency ; to believe a day of judgment, yet make no preparation for our account, Titus i. 16. Men's sins and judgments are aggravated according to the sense they have had of religion, and so 'their latter end may be worse than their beginning,' 2 Peter ii. 20. And sad it will be for those that from hopeful beginnings fall off from God. I will tell you, a man may live and die with a temporary faith and affec- tions to God and holiness, without making any visible apostasy, and yet have no sound faith of the right constitution. Yea, if you regard what little rooting grace hath in men's hearts, how weak their pulse beateth this way, how strong their affections are to the world and the things thereof, how little they can vanquish the cares and fears of this world, and the temptations that arise from voluptuous living, it is to be feared the far greatest part of Christians are but temporaries.
3. Oh ! then, be sure to get this truth of grace into your hearts. Let your hearts be effectually subdued to God ; let there be a principle of life set up in them. Religion respects our principles as well as our performances : 2 Tim i. 5, ' The end of the commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned/ There must be a renewed heart as the fountain, a well-informed conscience as our guide, and faith unfeigned as our great encourage- ment. And so all acts of charity to God and men are accepted with God as a piece of obedience done to him. If we will not regard the manner, God will not regard the matter. Oh ! then, get this renewed heart, and a lively faith, and an awakened conscience : this is to get oil into yoar vessels, and if once you get this, it will never fail, but increase exceedingly, like the Sareptan's oil. But how shall we get it ?
I answer — (1.) You have this oil from Christ. The unction is from the Holy One, 1 John ii. 20. As the precious oil was first poured on Aaron's head, and then came down to the skirts of his garment, so Christ is first possessed of the Spirit, and then we have it by our union with him : John i. 16, ' Of his fulness we receive grace for grace.' We must go to the fountain every day to seek new supplies. Christ was 'anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows.' Zech. iv., Christ is represented by the bowl and the two olive-trees that always poured forth golden oil. Christ as mediator is the storehouse of the church, who is instructed with all gifts and graces for our benefit. Oh ! bring your empty vessels to this golden olive-tree. The widow only brought casks, the oil failed not till the vessels failed.
(2.) If you would have it from Christ, you must use the means of grace, the word, prayer, sacraments, meditation. We need continual
34G SERMONS UrCN MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. III.
supplies, must use continual prayers, seek the grace of the Spirit to keep in our lamps, Luke xi. 13. So the word; God droppeth in something to the soul that waiteth on him : Mark iv. 24, ' Take heed how you hear ; for with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.' If we he earnest and diligent in waiting upon God, God will abound to us in blessing his word to us. So for meditation ; Mat. xiii. 19, the highway ground did not bring the word to their minds again ; doth not revolve it, mindeth it not, heedeth it not. So for the Lord's supper ; it is a means to root us in the love of God when we so often renew our oath of allegiance to him, to excite our faith in Christ. All these are a price put into our hands to get oil in our lamps, and prepare for his coming.
(3.) Keep your vessels clean. The Spirit dwelleth not but in a clean heart : doves build not their habitations on dunghills. He cometh as an efficient cause, as a Spirit assisting, before he comes as a Spirit inhabiting, and purifieth our hearts by faith.
(4.) After you have gotten this oil, cherish it, that it may not decay. Of its own nature it would do so ; witness that stock of original righteousness which Adam had. God's promise by which it is secured suppose th our endeavours to waste it : Luke viii. 18, ' Whosoever hath, to him shall be given ; but whosoever hath not. from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.'