AND SMOKING FL,VX. 49
Christ knew that gxiilt of their unkindness in leaving of him had de- jected their spirits. How gently did he endure Thomas his unbelief! and stooped so far unto his weakness, as to suffer him to thrust his hand into ^ his side (a). —>
[Chapter V. — Grace is little at first.]
For the second branch, God will not quench the smoking flax, or wick, but will blow it up till it flameth. In smoking flax there is but a little light, and that weak, as being not able to flame, and this little mixed with smoke.
The observations hence are, first, 'That in GocCs children, especially in their first conversion, there is but a little measure of grace, and that little mia'ed tcith much corruption, which, as smoke, is offensive. Secondly, That Christ icill not quench this smoking flax.
Obs. 1. For the first, Grace is little at the first. There are several ages in Chi'istians, some babes, some j'oung men : grace is as 'a gi'ain of mus- tard seed,' Matt. xvii. 20. Nothing so httle as grace at first, and nothing more glorious afterward : things of greatest perfection are longest in coming to their gi'owth. Man, the perfectest creature, comes to perfection by little and Httle ; worthless things, as mushrooms and the like, like Jonah's gourd, soon spring up, and soon vanish. A new creatm-e is the most excellent frame in all the world, therefore it groweth up by degrees ; we see in nature that a mighty oak riseth of an acorn. It is with a Christian as it was with Christ, who sprang out of the dead stock of Jesse, out of David's family, Isa. hii. 2. when it was at the lowest, but he grew up higher than the heavens. It is not with the trees of righteousness as it was ^^dth the trees of paradise, which were created all perfect at the fii'st. The seeds of all the creatures in this goodly frame of the world were hid in the chaos, m that confused mass at the fii'st, out of which God did command all creatui'es to arise ; in the small seeds of plants lie hid both bulk and branches, bud and fruit. In a few principles lie hid all comfortable conclusions of holy truth. All these glorious fireworks of zeal and hoUness in the saints had their beginning from a few sparks.
Let us not therefore be discom-aged at the small beginnings of gi'ace, but look on om-selves, as ' elected to be blameless and \\-ithout spot,' Eph. i. 4. Let us only look on our imperfect beginning to enforce fui*ther strife to perfection, and to keep us in a low conceit. Othen\ase, in case of dis- couragement, we must consider ourselves, as Christ doth, who looks on us as such as he intendeth to fit for himself. Christ valueth us by what we shall be, and «by that we are elected unto. We call a little plant a tree, because it is gi-owing up to be so. ' Who is he that despiseth the day of Uttle things ? ' Zech. iv. 10. Christ would not have us despise httle things.
The glorious angels disdain not attendance on httle ones ; httle ui their own eyes, and little in the eyes of the world.
Grace, though httle in quantity, yet'is much in vigour and worth.
It is Christ that raiseth the worth of little and mean places and persons. Bethlehem the least, Micah v. 2, Mat. ii. 6, and yet not the least ; the least in itself, not the least in respect Christ was born there. The second temple. Hag. ii. 9, came short of the outward magnificence of the former ; yet more glorious than the first, because Christ came into it. The Lord of the temple came into his own temple. The pupil of the eye is very little, yet seeth a great part of the heaven at once. A pearl, though little, yet is
VOL. I. D
50 THE BRUISED EEED
of much esteem : nothing in the world of so good use, as the least dram of grace.*
TChapter VI. — Grace is mingled with CorriqAion.']
Ohs. 2. But grace is not only little, but mingled with corruption ; whereof it is, that a Christian is said to be smoking flax. "Whence we see, that grace doth not icaste corruption all at once, but some is left to conflict withal. The pm-est actions of the purest men need Christ to perfume f them, and so is his office. When we pray, we need to pray again for Christ to pardon the defects of them. See some instances of this smoking flax. Moses at the Red Sea, being in a great perplexity, and knowing not what to say, or which way to turn him, groaned to God : no doubt this was a great conflict in him. In great distresses we know not what to pray, but the Spirit makes request with sighs that cannot be expressed, Rom. viii. 26. Broken hearts can peld but broken prayers.
When David was before the king of Gath, 1 Sam. xxi. 13, and disfigured himself in an uncomely manner, in that smoke there was some fii*e also ; you may see what an excellent psalm he makes upon that occasion, Ps. xxxiv. ; wherein, upon experience, ver. 18, he saith, ' The Lord is near unto them that are of a contrite spmt.' Ps. xxxi. 22, ' I said in my haste, I am cast out of thy sight ; there is smoke : yet thou heardest the voice of my prayer ; there is fire.' ' Master, carest thou not that we perish ?' Mat. viii. 25, cry the disciples ; here is smoke of infidehty, yet so much light of faith as stirred them up to pray to Christ. ' Lord, I beheve : ' there is Hght ; ' but help my unbehef,' Mark ix. 24 : there is smoke.