3. In renewing grace, we must consider both the moral and power- ful work : John vi. 44, 45, ' No man can come to me, except the Father who hath sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God ; every man therefore that hath heard, and learned of the Father, cometh unto me.' God worketh on us by his word and persuasion, and the secret influence of his grace : Acts xvi. 14, ' Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened, attended to the things spoken of Paul.' The moral way is by counsel, winning the consent of the sinner ; the phy- sical work by inclining the heart : Fortiter per te, Domine, suaviter per me — Powerfully by thee, 0 Lord, sweetly by me. He doth allure and persuade : Hosea ii. 19, ' I will betroth thee unto me for ever,' &c. ; Gen. ix. 27, ' God shall enlarge Japhet, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem ; ' and powerfully overcome the heart.
4. Besides renewing we need preserving grace, that God should con- tinue and increase what he hath begun, till all be perfected in glory : Phil. i. 6, ' He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ.' Some graces co-exist, others in due time follow one upon another ; as after conversion, preservation in holiness, and then perfection in holiness, and final enjoyment of God in glory are to come.
Use. To persuade us to look after, both in our desires and practice, an entire Christianity. We must not pick out what liketh us best, and pass by the rest, but desire God, and labour by all due means, that he may fulfil in us all the pleasure of his goodness : Hosea x. 11, ' Ephraini is as a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the corn, but will not break the clods.' We affect privileges, but decline duties ; desire
VER. 11.] SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 311
one sort of grace, but neglect another ; some graces serve our turn more than another.
1. In regard of God, his way of giving, Eph. i. 3, with all spiritual blessings : blessings which are absolutely necessary to salvation are linked together, and cannot be separated. Where God bestoweth one, he bestoweth all. The concatenation you find, Eom. viii. 30, ' Whom he did predestinate, them also he called,' &c.
2. Our first entry into the covenant bindeth us to it : 1 Peter iii. 21, ' Baptism doth also now save us, not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience.' It is an answer to the Lords offers and commands in the gospel, accepting the blessings offered, resolving upon the duties required.
3. The great hurt that redoundeth to us when we are partial, in with one thing and out with another ; it holdeth good in sins, graces, duties.
[1.] Sins. Many escape sensuality, but not worldliness, or escape fleshly lusts, but fall into errors. There is carnal wickedness and also spiritual wickedness, Eph. vi. 12. Now the grace of sincerity is to escape all, especially those that are most incident to us ; therefore the more hearty must our prayers be that God would ' order our steps in his word,' Ps. cxix. 133.
[2.] In graces. Men look so much to one that they forget the other. We are bidden to ' take to ourselves the whole armour of God,' Eph. vi. 11 ; not a piece, a breastplate without a helmet ; and 2 Cor. vi. 7, ' On the right hand and on the left.' Then we are provided against all temptations. Every grace is a help to the rest, and the neglect of one is a hindrance to all. We must not mind faith so as to forget love, or both so as to neglect temperance : 2 Peter i. 5, 6. ' Add to faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,' &c. Not one must be left out, not cry up knowledge so as to neglect practice, nor fervours of devotion so as to betray men to ignorant and blind superstition.
[3.] Duties. Every duty must be observed in its place and season. Most use one grace or duty against another ; as some set their whole hearts to mourn for sin, but little think to get a thankful sense of their Bedeemer's love ; others prattle of free grace, but give over penitent confession, and care, and watchfulness against sin, and diligence in a holy fruitful life : Jude 4, ' Turning the grace of God into lascivious- ness.' Some cry up repentance without faith, others faith without repentance and new obedience.
Doct 2. That a christian should not be contented with a little of God's grace, but seek to have all fulfilled in him.
These already were converted, and had attained to a good degree of eminency in faith and holiness, yet still the apostle prayeth for them, that ' God would fulfil in them all the pleasure of his goodness.'
1. While God hath a hand to give, we should have a heart to receive. If the oil faileth not, the vessels should not fail : Ps. Ixxxi. 10, ' Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.' There is no want in God, only we cannot take it in as fast as God freely giveth.