Use 2. It reproveth those who, if they have gotten such a measure of grace, whereby they think they may be assured they are in a state of grace, they never look further, but set up their rest, and think here- after Ciirist will make them perfect when they die. Consider —
1. They hazard their claim of sincerity that do not aim at perfection ; for where there is true grace, there will be a desire of the greatest perfection ; as a small seed will seek to grow up into a tree. He that is truly good will be growing from good to better, and so is best at last ; the more his light and love is increased, the more he is troubled about the relics of sin, and grieved at his heart that he can serve God no more perfectly.
2. All promises are accomplished by degrees ; and so far as we hope for anything, we will be endeavouring it : 1 John iii. 3, ' Every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure.'
3. Accoi-ding to the degrees of grace so will our glory be. The vessel is filled according to its capacity. They that are growing here have more in heaven. He that improved ten talents hath a reward proportionable, and so he that improved five. Mat. xxv. As our measures of grace are, so will our measiu-es of glory be, all according to their size and receptivity. As there are degrees of punishments in hell, so of rewards in heaven. He that loved God more on earth has more of his love in heaven.
Use 3. It showeth the miserable estate of them that do not go from strength to strength, but from weakness to weakness ; tliat waste
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their strength by sin, that are fallen back, and have lost the savouriness of their spirits, and their delight in communion with God, and grow- more careless and neglectful of holy things, weak in faith, impatient under the cross, formal in holy duties ; their heart is not watched, their tongue is not bridled, their conversation is more vain, they wax worse and worse. Oh ! take heed of such a declining estate. When men fall from their first love : Rev. ii. 4, ' I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.' First faith : 1 Tim. v. 12, ' Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.' Or first obedience : 2 Chron. xvii. 3, ' The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David.' David in his later time fell into scandalous crimes.
Use 4. Is to persuade you to go on from strength to strength. It is the gift of God's free grace, and the work of the Spirit : Eph. iii. 16, ' That he would grant you to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.' By maintaining and actuating grace, notwith- standing all difficulties.
Motives.
1. What a monstrous thing is it to be always babes and infants in grace ! Heb. v. 12, 13, ' For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness ; for he is a babe.' After many years of growing, to be a babe still, an infant still, is monstrous.
2. Besides your entrance into Christianity, there must be a progress. There is the gate and the way : Mat, vii. 14, ' Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life.' Will you always keep at the door and entrance ? It is not enough to begin, but you must finish what you have begun, in the way of mortification, heavenly- mindedness, and self-denial.
3. All the ordinances promote your growth ; it is the work of the Spirit, but the Spirit doth it by the means of grace. We must not be idle and negligent, but use the means ; as the word : 1 Peter ii. 2, ' As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.' Every duty giveth Christ a more hearty welcome into your souls, but especially the Lord's supper. At the table of the Lord we have our spiritual refreshings. Our initiation was by baptism, but our growth by this ordinance. How doth this do it ? Partly as it increaseth our assurance of God's love, and so encourageth us in his service ; partly as we do more solemnly make use of Christ, who is our sanctification, 1 Cor. i. 30 ; partly as it doth excite unto more fruitful- ness, we being planted in the courts of God, and feasted at his table, and taking our meal and viaticum to encourage us in our journey to heaven.
4. How many have thriven by less means ! Twice Christ marvelled ; at the faith of the centurion : Mat. viii. 10, ' He marvelled and said, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel ; ' and at the unbelief of his own countrymen : Mark vi. 6, ' He marvelled because of their unbelief.' One had so great a faith, and so little means ; the other so little faith, and so great means.