And likewise, as there is a growth in intension and extension, so there is a growth in the quality and purity of grace ; for the longer a man lives, those graces that he hath grow more refined. When a Clnistian is but a new Christian, he tastes much of the old stock. As all fruit at the first will taste of the stock, so there is no fruit of righteousness that comes fi'om a man, at his first conversion, but it tastes a great deal of old Adam. It savours of the old stock. The more he live, and grows spiritual, the more that that comes from him relisheth of the Spirit, the more refined is his wisdom, the more refined is his love, the more refined from self-love, his joy and delight is more refined.
Obj. Hence we may answer an objection by the way ; an old man seems not to grow in grace. He seems not to be so good a man, not to be so zealous as when he was young ; not so forward. * Sentence unfinished. — G.
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Ans. Beloved, In those that arc young there is a great deal of nature joined with a little grace, and that grace in them makes a greater expres- sion, because it is carried with the current of nature. But in age it is more refined. That that is, that knowledge they have, is more pure and more settled, and that love and afi'ection is more refined. There is less self-love, and that zeal they have it is joined with more heavenly discre- tion. There is less wild fire, there is less strange fire with it. Though there be less heat of nature, that it do not work in outward demonstrations to the eye of the world, yet it is more refined and pure. So grace grows thus likewise in the purity and perfection of it ; not altogether pure, for somewhat will stick to our best performances, savouring of the worst prin- ciple in nature. For as we carry flesh and spirit alway, so that that comes from them will savour of corruption ; yet less in a grown Christian, that is a father in Christianity, than in another.
' From glory to glory.'
Grace is glory in regard of the state before. The least degree of grace is glory in regard of the state of nature. But grace is not glory properly till it come to a growth. Grace is not glorious, so in comparison to other Christians that are grown. In regard of the state of nature, grace is glory, take it in the lowest ; for is not this a glory for a man to be taken into the fellowship of Christ ? to be the son of God, and an heir of heaven ? to have angels for his attendants ? to be begotten by the glorious gospel, the word of God, that immortal seed ? Whatsoever thing is about a Christian it is glorious. Is not he glorious that hath God the Father, and God the Son, the Lord of glory, and the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of glory, and the glorious gospel, and glorious angels for his attendants ? Every thing is glorious in a Christian. In every Christian there is this. So grace is a kind of glory ; but notwithstanding we must not content ourselves with that. Grace is then especially glory when it comes to growth. We must labour that grace may appear. What is glory ? Properly glory is excel- lency and victory over the contrary with manifestation, excellency mani- fested. Now a man is said to be glorious in grace, when his grace comes to be excellent in view, and victorious over the contrary with public mani- festation.
Use 1. Now this we ought to labour for ; though grace be glory in respect of the former estate, yet in the rank of Christians ive oufjht to be glorious, that is, more and more gracious; both.
In regard of God, that God may have the more glory from us. The more grace, the more esteem from him, because we resemble him.
And in regard of Christ Jesus : the more glorious we are, the more we resemble him. Let us labour to be more and more glorious, in regard likewise of the church, whom we shall benefit more. The more we grow in grace, the more we shall prevail with God by our prayers. Who pre- vailed more with their prayers than Moses, and such men ? Again, when grace is glorious, that is, with victory and full manifestation, the more we are fit to give a lustre and light, that others seeing it may glorify God ; to draw others to the love of grace, when they see grace glorious. Now grace is then glorious in us that others may be encouraged. When we can resist strong temptations, v/hen we are not Hke children ' carried away with the wind of every doctrine,' Eph. iv. 14, this is a glorious thing. When a Christian can hold his own in the worst times ; when it is a witty* thing to be a Christian : as Hilary said in a time of schism, ' it required a great * That is, ' witc' — G.
284 EXCELLENCY OF THE GOSPEL