388 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. VII.
wise it will not come into the view and notice of conscience, to make up an evidence there.
[1.] I do suppose that conscience hath a vote in the matters of our peace, Rom. viii. 16. In the matters of our sense, Rom. ix. 1, the bosom witness is conscience ; the knowledge of our estate is not intui- tive, but discursive.
[2.] That small things are inconspicuous, and not easily to be dis- cerned, especially by weak eyes ; therefore it is a hard matter for con- science to discern a little grace in a great heap of corruption. Man's heart is not watchful, nor so tender, nor are things in such order there, as that every lesser thing should be taken notice of ; though conscience be a secret spy, yet small things escape its view and notice, both in a way of sin and grace ; in a drowsy and inattentive soul, it cannot be imagined : therefore there must be a great deal of grace before it can be seen and distinguished from a common work ; for the heart of man is deceitful: the woman was forced to light a candle, and search dili- gently, before she could find her lost groat ; so hard will it be to dis- cover that in the soul which is small and little.
[3.] The testimony of the Spirit is usually given in upon the greatest exercise and abounding of grace ; for the oil of gladness followeth the oil of grace, and comfort is dispensed according to the rate of obed- ience : John xv. 10, ' If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love ; ' and John xiv. 21, ' He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and is loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifest myself unto him.' Therefore out of all this it followeth, that if we would maintain any comfortable and de- lightful sense of our interest in Christ, and the glory of the world to come, we should not be contented with a little grace.
4. With respect to the nature of grace, it is a sign we have no grace when we think we have enough and to spare ; surely they that have tasted that the Lord is gracious, 1 Peter iii. 2, they are not cloyed, but will long for more ; that man that doth not desire to be better was never good. As the little seed works through the hard and dry clods, that it may grow up to stalk and flower, so is grace, it is working and increasing to perfection : therefore it is an ill sign, to be satisfied with small measures of grace, to say I have enough. Every degree of grace, is as desirable as that we have attained to ; and those whose hearts God hath touched, they earnestly desire more.
5. All is too little to stand before the Lord, and therefore none have any surplusage of grace, or more than will serve their own turn ; as in the gathering of manna, he that had much, had nothing over. If we consider the glorious and holy presence of Christ, we have all little enough: Ps. cxliii. 2, 'Enter not into judgment with thy servant;' Non (licit Cum hosdbus tuis, sed Cum servo tuo. He doth not say, O Lord, enter not into judgment with thine enemies, but, Enter not into judgment with thy servant.
6. Every one is to be considered according to his advantages, and opportunities of growth and improvement. Less may be suffi- cient to salvation, but not to them to whom more is given ; as they distinguish of a fundamental in se and quoad nos. God may accept of an implicit faith in some, but not in others ; so it is true of
VER. 9.] SERMONS UPON' MATTHEW XXV. 389
grace, that rule, Luke xii. 48, ' He that knew not and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.' God may accept that from others which he will not from us, and we are to be answerable for our means of growth ; we expect lie should come sooner that rideth on horseback than he that travelleth on foot ; and therefore we must not be contented with a bare competency, but labour for abundance.
7. The greatest graces have many times the greatest corruptions and temptations to wrestle with. God doth not call every one to such a trial as he called Abraham ; but as Jacob drove as the little ones were able to bear, so doth God proportion temptations according to the measure of grace and strength that every one hath ; and therefore he that hath most grace, hath but enough for that condition of life wherein God will exercise and try him.
8. You may easily have too little, you cannot have too much. There are many come short, none over ; you never read of any that had too much faith, too much of the love of God and the fear of God. In the internals and essentials of religion, there is no nimium : a man may spend too much time in praying and hearing, when it encroacheth upon other duties ; but he cannot fear God too much with a filial fear, or love God too much ; many love him too little, and therefore are kept so doubtful all their days, that they cannot tell whether they love God at all or no.