2. To preserve what we have. If we do not grow better, we grow worse : Heb. vi. 1, ' Let us go on to perfection ;' and then presently he treateth of apostasy, ver. 4, &c. So 2 Peter iii. 17, 18, ' Seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being lead away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness ; but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ' We cannot keep that which we have received if we do not labour to increase it : Mat. xxv. 29, ' Unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance ; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.' They that row against the stream, or he that goeth up a sandy hill, if they do not go forward they go backward. We are either ascending or descending, continually in motion. When a tree leaveth off to grow, it decayeth. Man goetb backward in his estate if he have constant expenses and no gettings. If we would maintain that measure of grace which we have, we must go forward.
3. That we may attain to what is promised. God hath promised absolute holiness : 1 Thes. v. 23, 24, >' The very God of peace sanctify you wholly ; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith- ful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.' When he had prayed, he groundeth his confidence on God's faithfulness : Eph. v. 27, ' That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy, and without blemish.' Christ died to bring us to a state of perfection ; and being told so, we expect it. We do not put off all our filthy garments at once, but there is a body of sin cleaveth to the best ; and therefoie
SERMON UPON PSALM LXXXIV. 7. 319'
this work is done by degrees. So Col. i. 22, ' To present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight;' Jude 24, 'Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory,' &c. This work is undertaken by Christ, and he is to carry it on from one degree to another, till it be com- pleted at death. These expressions would be in vain if there were not a going on from strength to strength and a constant increase. Com doth not grow in the barn, but in the field.
4. That we may perform what is required. The law of God is. perfect, and alloweth no sin or sinful weakness, therefore we should allow none. The perfection of the law is so far still in force — (1.) As that we should be ashamed of our defects in holiness, and mourn over them : Kom. vii. 14, ' The law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold unders in.' Alas ! poor captive ! I cannot do what I would. (2.) We should be unsatisfied with our present measure of holiness, and still be longing and striving after more : Phil. iii. 12, ' Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after it, that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.' The perfection of the law is of this use, that we may be kept humble, and aspire after further growth, and make further progress every day. Perfection in holiness is not attainable in this life, yet vf& are to aim at no less. Christ took hold of us in effectual calling for this end ; and we are not sincere with God, if it be not so.
5. That we may answer the patterns set before us. The saints in. scripture are all set forth for an example ; Abraham in faith, Kom. iv. 20 ; Job in patience, James v. 11 ; Timothy in sobriety ; Paul in zeal and diligence. We are to take the prophets for an example ; and Paul biddeth us follow him, as he followed Christ : 1 Cor. xi. 1, ' Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.' These holy men had the same nature, the same interests and concernments ; we have the same helps and encouragements, the same God, and Christ, and Spirit, and rule, and hopes, and comfort, and glory, which should shame us to come short of them. Therefore you must be agoing from strength to strength. Yea, the angels : Mat. vi. 10, ' Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.' It is but reason that they that would be like them for privileges should be like them for service and duty. If the angels, that are out of gunshot and harm's way, hold on in God's service, much more should we. Wicked men think everything in religion enough, and that we make more ado than needeth, but Christ referreth us to the angels : yea, to God himself : 1 Peter i. 15, ' Be ye holy, as he that has called you is holy ; ' Mat. v. 48, ' Be ye perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.' Now therefore we must by degrees be growing up unto this estate. The holiest upon earth are not a sufficient copy to us. God is essentially holy, infinitely holy, originally holy. Now wherein must we imitate him ? We must be immutably holy ; we should aim at that state, when we shall be in some sort so. God is universally holy in all his ways and works ; we should get nearer and nearer to this pattern.