3. If we faithfully and diligently use the means and common helps, it is very likely God will give special grace. Certain it is that we have means and duty appointed to us for the seeking of grace which may convert 'US, and these means we may 9,nd must use to this end. God is very angry with those that do not improve common gifts and graces, such as the use of reason, good education, the example of others, the powerful preaching of the gospel, and common illumination, and the knowledge of the truth gained thereby ; if they despise all these, and abandon themselves to their own brutish passions and affections, as we see many by resisting common preparing grace do so harden their hearts and increase their incapacity, that the same degree of grace will not ■change them that will change others not so self-hardened : Jer. xiii. 23, '' Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots ? then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil.' And those that are ■unwilling to use the means that they are able, that will not hear, or
SERMON UPON MARK IV. 24. 427
consider what they hear, that it may afifect them, they provoke God, not only to suspend the influence of his Spirit, but to take away the means : Prov. i. 23, 24, ' Turn you at my reproof : behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, and I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused ; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded,' &c. Much more when they run the contrary way, and turn their thoughts and affections more eagerly after vanity, and oppose God's help and grace, because it is against their lusts : Ezek. xxiv. 13, ' Because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shall not be purged from thy filthiness any more.' Well, then, they that have common grace ought and are bound to use it for the obtaining of more grace. It is charged as a great crime on them that have eyes and see not, ears and hear not ; that will not frame their doings to turn unto the Lord, so much as put them- selves into a posture. They are threatened that it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than those that have abundance of means and use them not; that they that were lifted up to heaven in ordinances shall be cast down to hell for the neglect of them. Mat. xi. 23 ; that the Ninevites 'shall rise up in judgment against them, and condemn them, because they repented at the preaching of Jonas ; and behold a greater than Jonas is here,' Mat. xii. 41. They that have received so much grace from God, and yet do not understand, nor seek after him, their condemnation is aggravated, their destruction is of themselves ; they shut themselves out of the kingdom of God, reject the counsel of God against themselves, and judge themselves unworthy of eternal life. The scripture everywhere speaketh at this rate concerning the folly and negligence of men.
But if it be asked, If they improve this common grace, shall they acquire special grace ?
Ans. God is abundant in mercy, goodness, and truth, and doth not use to appoint means in vain. Certainly they do not merit it at God's hands, nor is he expressly bound to give it to them. No ; * It is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth,' Kom. ix. 16. The first grace is given by God as a free Lord ; not by any certain law, but by his own pleasure. Well, but will he give it ? The question is curious, and needeth no answer. He that is deadly sick doth not refuse his physic till he be made certain that it will recover him, but useth it as the only proper remedy in the case, and commits the event to God. He that is to plough, and commit his precious seed to the ground, doth not stand to have assurance that the next year will prove fruitful and the season kindly, but ventureth because usually God's blessing goeth along with man's industry. So in the business of salvation, we should not trouble ourselves about the event, but do our duty, and leave the event to God, waiting for his power and grace in the careful use of the means which he hath instituted to that end. Certainly none perish but they perish through their own folly and negligence, not for any defect in God's help. When we have done all that we can, he is not our debtor, but yet he is our gracious benefactor ; and if we would labour to suppress our cavils and curiosity, we shall find God better to us than we can imagine.
4. This increase is given by degrees ; we have not all at first, nor all at once ; for Christ speaketh to them ' to whom it was given to know the
428 SERMON UPON MARK IV. 24.
mysteries of tlie kingdom of God,' Mark iv. 11 ; 'to them that had ears to hear/ ver. 23. Now to them he saith, ' More shall be given.' As our capacities are enlarged, so is God's bounty to us : Ps. Ixxxi. 10, ' Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.' We are not straitened in God, but in ourselves. The more we improve grace received, and the more serious we grow, and have our desires and expectations enlarged, the more God will give ; for by mercy he prepareth for more mercy. It is serious diligence, and exercising ourselves to godliness maketh us see the worth of grace, and the necessity of more grace to bear our burdens, resist temptations, perform our duties ; and the more we are acquainted with God, the more will we follow on to know the Lord. Moses' first request was, ' Tell me thy name ; ' and then, ' Show me thy glory.' Sensible want increaseth with enjoyment ; so doth God's supply, for his goodness is inexhaustible ; where he hath given, he will give.