Chapter 10
Use 3. Let me in the next place direct myself to those who have a real work of godliness upon their hearts, and I would speak to them by way of: 1 Caution, 2 Counsel, 3 Comfort.
1 By way of Caution, that they do not blur these Characters of grace in their souls; though God's children cannot quite deface their graces, yet they may disfigure them; too much carnal liberty may weaken their evidences, and so dim their luster, that they cannot be read. These Characters of the godly are precious things; the gold and crystal cannot be compared with them. O keep them fair written in your hearts! And they will be so many living comforts in a dying hour; it will not affright a Christian to have all the signs of death in his body, when he can see all the signs of grace in his soul, he will say as Simeon, Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.
2 By way of Counsel, you who are enriched with the treasures of godliness, bless God for it: This flower does not grow in nature's garden. When you had listed yourselves under the Devil, and taken pay on his side, fighting against your own happiness, that then God should come with converting grace, and put forth a loving and gentle violence, causing you to espouse his quarrel against Satan; when you had lain many years soaking in wickedness, as if you had been parboiled for Hell, that then God should lay you a steeping in Christ's blood, and breathe holiness into your heart, O what cause have you to write yourselves eternal debtors to free grace. He denies God to be the Author of his Grace, who does not give him the praise of it; O acknowledge the love of God; admire distinguishing mercy, set the Crown of your praise upon the head of free grace. If we are to be thankful for the fruits of the earth, much more for the fruits of the Spirit; it is well there is an eternity coming, when the Saints shall triumph in God, and make his praise glorious.
3 Let me speak to the godly by way of Comfort; you that have but the least dram of godliness in sincerity, let me give you two rich Consolations.
1 That Jesus Christ will not discourage the weakest Grace, but will cherish and preserve it to Eternity. Grace which is but newly budded, shall by the beams of the Sun of Righteousness be concocted and ripened into Glory: This I shall speak more fully to in the next.
Application 3. I now turn to those in whom a genuine work of godliness has taken place. I want to speak to them in three ways: 1. A caution. 2. Counsel. 3. Comfort.
1. By way of caution: do not blur the marks of grace in your souls. Though God's children cannot completely erase their grace, they can disfigure it. Too much carnal freedom can weaken the evidence of grace and dim its brightness until it can no longer be clearly read. These marks of godliness are precious beyond comparison — gold and crystal are nothing to them. Keep them clearly written in your hearts! They will be living comforts at the hour of death. It will not frighten a Christian to have every sign of death in his body, when he can see every sign of grace in his soul. He will say with Simeon: Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace.
2. By way of counsel: you who are rich in the treasures of godliness, give God the glory for it. This flower does not grow in nature's garden. When you had enlisted under the devil and taken his pay, fighting against your own happiness — that then God would come with converting grace and draw you by a loving, gentle power to take His side against Satan. When you had spent long years soaking in wickedness, marinating for hell — that then God should steep you in Christ's blood and breathe holiness into your heart. What cause you have to count yourself an eternal debtor to free grace. The person who does not give God the praise for his grace is denying that God is its author. Acknowledge God's love. Stand in wonder at His distinguishing mercy. Place the crown of your praise on the head of free grace. If we ought to be thankful for the fruits of the earth, how much more for the fruits of the Spirit. It is good that eternity is coming, when the saints will triumph in God and make His praise glorious.
3. Let me speak to the godly by way of comfort. To you who have even the smallest measure of genuine godliness, I offer two rich encouragements.
1. Jesus Christ will not discourage the weakest grace, but will cherish and preserve it to eternity. Grace that has only just begun to bud will, under the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, be ripened and brought to full glory. I will speak to this more fully in the next chapter.
