(3.) That we may increase it. Grace is not only donum, a gift to be preserved ; but ialentum, a talent to be improved and increased upon our hands, that we may be the more fit to glorify God. This ajjpeareth by the many excitations in scripture to growth: 2 Pet. iii. 18, 'But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' It is not enough to maintain that measure of grace which we have already received, but we must get more ; always look after the growth of it in ourselves ; and indeed the one cannot be done without the other ; there is no possibility to keep what we have, unless it be
VeR. 13.] SERMONS UPON KOMANS VIII. 65
improved ; he that roweth against the stream, had need ply the oar ; and he that goeth up a sandy hill, must never stand still. And it is our owa fault, if it doth not grow ; God loveth to multiply and increase his gifts ; ' Grace be multiplied,' 2 Pet. ii. 2. There is more to be had, and more will be given, unless our sins obstruct the effusion of it ; if we get it not, we may blame ourselves, for God doth nothing to hinder the increase ; and indeed when grace is in any life and vigor, it will be growing : Prov. iv 18, ' The way of justice is as a shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.' The morning light increaseth ; a wicked man groweth worse and worse ; he sinneth away the light of his conscience, rejecteth the light of the word, till he stumbleth into utter darkness. It is like the coming on of the night ; the other like the coming on of the day. Now mortification of sin is the great means of growing in grace, reynovet qucd proliihet ; it maketli room for grace in the soul, as it taketh away that which letteth, that it may diffuse its influence more plentifully. In heaven we are perfect, because there is no sin ; opposite principles are wholly gone ; so here, the more you weaken sin, the more is grace introduced with power and success: 1 Pet. ii. 1, 2, 'Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisy, and envy, and evil-speaking, as new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the world, that ye may grow thereby.' There is no way of growth, till evil frames of spirit be laid aside.
The First use, is to enforce this duty upon all those that are called unto, or look for any hopes by Jesus Christ, to mortify the deeds of the body : 0 ! do not think you are past mortification, because you are in a state of grace ; there is need of it still ; yea, it concerneth you more than others.
1. There is still need of it, if you consider the abundance of sin of all kinds that yet remaineth with us, and the marvellous activity of it in our souls, and the cursed influences of it ; or the mischief that will accrue to us, if it be let alone. Let me a little press you by all these considerations.
[1.] The abundance of sin of all kinds that remaineth with the regenerate, or those that are called to grace. I shall evidence that by some scriptures : 1 Pet. ii. 1, ' Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil speaking ; ' to whom is this spoken ? The word lolierefore biddeth us look back ; when we look back, we find it was spoken to those that were called, effectually called, and born again ; yea, those that had made some progress ia mortification, that had purified their hearts to the obedience of the truth, 1 Pet. i. 22. Who would think that the seeds of so much evil should lurk in their hearts ? but alas ! it is so. They are in part envious, malicious, hypocritical to the last ; and unless they shall keep mortifying, these sins will get the mastery of them, and bewray them- selves to their loss and prejudice, and God's dishonour. See another place : Col. iii. 5, ' Mortify therefore your members which are upon earth ; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.' You would think all this were spoken to loose and ungoverned men, that have not the least tincture and show of religion. No ; it is spoken of those whose life was hidden with God in Christ, men acquainted with spiritual things, and brought
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6G SEttMONS UPON BOMANS VIIL [SeR. XVIII.
under the power of the life of Christ. We foolishly imagine that such should only be told of the remainders of unbelief, or spiritual pride, or such like evils as are \ery remote from public infamy and scandal ; but the Spirit of God is wiser than we ; and knoweth our hearts, and the secret workings of them, better than we do ourselves ; and it is better these sins should be laid open in the warnings of the word, and dis- covered io us, rather tlian in us, by the prevalency of a temptation. An over-spiritual preaching, hath not refined but destroyed religion ; God tliought it fit it should be said to them that are taken into the communion of the life of Christ, 'mortify' — what? your spiritual pride? no ; but fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection ; the root of the foulest sin is in our nature, and if we do not keep a severe hand over them, will sprout out in our practice: so Gal. v. 19, 20, ' Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these ; adultery, fornication, unclean- ness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, sedition, heresy.' The apostle thought good to warn pro- fessing christians, who had given up themselves to the leading of the Spirit, of the works of the flesh ; he giveth a black catalogue of them, and he concludeth all, ' of which I told you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.' The apostles, that were divinely inspired, and full of the wisdom of God, did not soar aloft in airy speculative strains, or refined spiritual notions ; but thought meet to condescend to these particulars, not only when they spake to Gentiles, but churches, and professing christians, to give warning against fornication, and drunk- enness, and other such gross sins ; and that not once, but often ; for they knew the nature of man, and that nice speculations are too fine to do the work of the gospel ; all that have corruption in them had need stand upon their guard to prevent sins of the blackest hue, and foulest note among them. I will give but one instance more, and that is of our Saviour Clnist, who thought meet to warn his own disciples, who surely were good men : Luke xxi-. 34, ' Take heed lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.' This is a lesson for Christ's own disciples ; a man would think it more proper for haunters of taverns, and boon companions, who.se souls are sunk and lost in luxury and excess; but Christ Jesus thought this caution needful for those that were taken into his own company, and bosom friends. Let not all this be interpreted as any excuse to them that swallow the greatest sins without fear, live in them without sense, and commit them without remorse. Cautions should not be turned into excuses ; there is some inclination in our nature to these things ; but these are not the practices of God's people ; it is spoken that they may not at any time be so.