362 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IX.
ment unto Yictory,' Isa. xlii. 1, 2. So likewise he promiseth, ' that he will carry the lambs in his bosom, and gently lead them that are with young,' Isa. xl. 11.
Use 3. The next use shall be for encouragement unto weak ones. Should tender and weak Christians then be discouraged, for whom God is so cai'e- ful? Surely no. Put case they bring forth but little fruit ; yet, 0 destroy it not, for a bleasing is in it. Therefore let us not be discouraged, if we be God's vines ; which is known and discovered, not by the abundance of fruit only, but by the kind of our fruit also. If it come from the Spirit of God, and relish of the Spirit, though it be not in such plenty, yet a vine is not a thorn. A Christian is not to be discouraged, though he bring not forth abundance of fruit at the first. There are different degrees and tem- pers of soil, and of ages in Christianity ; which is spoken to encourage those that are good ; and j-et are discouraged, because it is not with them, as with some other Christians of their accfuaintance. Know, that there is no set measure of grace necessary to salvation, but truth. God doth assign us a measure of grace according to his good pleasure, and according as he hath purposed to make us profitable to others in the use of means. Those whom he means to use for suffering or doing of great matters in the church, those he fits suitably for that he means to call them to ; others have not that abundance of grace, out of God's wisdom, who knows best how to dispense his own graces to his own glory. If we allow not ourselves in our weak- nesses, but groan under them, hate them, and strive against them, reaching towards perfection ; in this case our weaknesses shall not hurt our salvation, but God will perfect his power in our weakness, 2 Cor. xii. 9.
So we see it is not the multitude of fruit, but the sincerity of it. If it be true, that makes a Christian. If there be truth of gi-ace, it will out and spread the branches ; it shall not always be so with us. Sincerity and endeavour to grow, with a desire and thirst after growth, makes a man a Christian. Therefore, as was said, w'e must not be discouraged, though our growth and spreading be not like others. Every Chris- tian hath his measure. Though every one be bound to go further and further, from faith to faith, and grace to grace ; yet there is a blessing in a little, and a promise also to him that useth it well. ' To him that hath, it shall be given,' Mat. xiii. 12. Christ hath a care that the foxes do not hurt the little tender grapes. Let none therefore be discouraged for their non- proficiency in the Avays of God, so as to go back and leave off. He knows best, when and how to take away the baits, snares, and temptations that are set to catch them and discourage them. Let God alone with his own work, who is the great vine-dresser. Do thou thine o^vn work ; attend upon good means ; wait upon God ; and then let the malice of the world and the devil be what they will, he will have a care of his vines ; and the more care, the more young and tender they are, &c.
These considerations may aftect us, not only to take good by the vine for our bodies, but for our souls also, and so the same thing may cherish both body and soul. A Christian by grace hath an extracting virtue to draw holy uses out of everything ; as the Holy Ghost here compares us to a vine, to teach us these and the like things now unfolded. The last thing pro- mised is,
' The scent thereof shall be as the vine of Lebanon.'
This Lebanon was a mountainous place, on the north side of Judea, won- drous fruitful in all kind of trees, in cedars, and goodly vines ; so it did abound in spice, and all goodly things. Therefore, to shew that a Christian
HOSEA XIV. 7. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER.
should be the best of his rank, he fetches comparisons from the best things' in nature.
' The scent thereof shall be as the vine of Lebanon.'
Now the vine of Lebanon had a sweet scent in it, both to draw to the; liking, and then to delight in the taste and taking thereof. So it is with the graces of God in his children, they carry, as it were, a sweet scent with them, l)oth to draw others to delight in, and taste of the same things.
Quest. But how comes it to pass that Christians send forth so sweet as cent?