What sort of Graces the Christian is to treasure up.

The second head of precious commodities that a Christians breast is to be stored with, is, Divine graces, every grace is of vast worth, and excellent use, yea the least degree of sincere grace is worth a Mine of Gold, or a Princes Crown and Kingdome, 'tis said of the grace of faith, that the trial of it (or faith tried in the furnace of affliction) is much more precious than gold, that perisheth— 1 Pet 1:7. None can set a right estimate upon a grain of true grace, which is no other than the off-spring of Heaven, the purchase of Christs blood, and the blessed fruit of the spirit of grace: it is part of the divine nature, the Image of God, and seed of immortalitie, grace is the muniment and ornament of the soul, 'tis the onlie emolument and accomplishment of a Christian; let the World be hurryed to gather great estates, filling their houses with goods, their barns with grain, and bags with gold, let the good soul get filled with the fruits of righteousness, the graces of the spirit.

There are four sorts of graces, that I shal advise all Christians in a special manner to treasure up in their hearts.

Which are these

1.Directing graces#

2.Subjecting graces#

3.Profiting graces#

4.Persevering graces#

I.The believing soul is to lay up, with diligence, directing, conducting, resolving, and satisfying graces, that is, abundance of knowledge, wisdome, prudence, and judgment, that he may have light and sight, about the things of God: Dayes are coming, [Note 1] when Christians may need the wisdome of the Serpent, as wel as the innocencie of the Dove: a Christian in his journey is often puzled with various paths, and intricate Maeanders, O how much worth is a spirit of understanding, whereby we may choose the good, and refuse the bad, and keep the streight road to Heaven? hence the Apostle praies for his Philippians, that their love might abound more and more in knowledge, and in all judgment, that they might approve things that are excellent, Phil 1:9,#

10.The means to keep us from failing about [ἀδιάφορα] things indifferent, is to have a solid apprehension concerning these [τὰ διαφέροντα] things that are excellent, or differenced from others as the word imports, i.e. those things that tend to sinceritie and innocencie of life, therefore he adds, that yee may be sincere, and without offence til the day of Christ, that's the best policie that helps on piety, a spirit of discerning is useful to exact walking, an inlightened conscience helps the soul to be without offence: [Note 2] no man can walk circumspectly, but he that hath his eies in his head; he that walks in darkness with a blinde eie knows not whether he goeth; the eie of the minde is the light and guide of the wil and affections, and if that be blinde, those blinde faculties fall into the ditch of errour, terrour, apostacie and miserie: the Christians eies must be ful of light, we cannot have too much knowledge if it be sanctified, in one act of Religion, a Christian is to look many waies, inwards at his principle, upwards, to the pleasing of God, forwards at the reward, and his end, down-wards at the profit of men, &c. There are many eies upon us, and our eies must be upon manie, some long to see our wel-doing, others watch for our halting, we had need get wisdome to carry usefullie towards the good, and wisely towards those that are without: there's great necessity of true solid knowledge, to discern our own dutie and exercise charity, to minde our own business, and yet to do good offices to Saints, and sinners, and to keep within our place and station: we shal finde some difficulty so to carry our selves as not to give offence carelesly, or to take offence causelesly: we should learn to see with our own eies, and not be led by multitudes, or wise, or learned; or godly: [Note 3] Oh what a blessed thing is it to be wise unto that which is good and simple concerning evil? with how much more ease may a Christian go through his Christian course with, than without, [Note 4] a solid knowledge? for wisdome is profitable to direct: yea it strengtheneth the wise more than weapons of war: therefore it excelleth folly as far as light excelleth darkness: practical wisdome is infinitely beyond speculative, hence saith Solomon, the wisdome of the prudent, is to understand his way, Prov 14:8. this treasure of directing graces is practical, it helps the tongue to answer discreetly, the feet to walk exactly, the hands to work compleatly, to spend no time or pains in by-wayes, or by-blows: and it also concerns a mans self it doth not range abroad, and forget home, the greatest Politician is a very fool that cannot order his own affaires with discretion, he that is not wise for himself is not wise at all, God wil accept, and men wil praise that man that doth wel to himself: Paul prayes for the Saints at Coloss, that they might be filled with the knowledge of his wil, in all wisdome and spiritual understanding, [Note 5] Col 1:9. For what end? why not to talk, but to walk worthy of the Lord, vers. 10. That's the only knowledg that ends in holy practise: soul-profiting is the end of spiritual understanding: they that aim not at this end, and by their studies are not furthered in this work, may have the repute of learned men, but shal never pass for judicious Christians.#

Oh sirs, take much paines to lay up these graces that may direct you; certainly there is a vast difference betwixt a Christian of a solid judgment, and another of a weak head, though both sincere, the one knows duty, and lawful liberty, the others conscience is wofully perplexed with nice and needless scruples, which render him a burden to himself, and offence to others, and expose him to a World of temptations: An unsetled soul, that yet is wel-meaning but ignorant, is a Theater upon which Satan and seducers do act dreadful Tragedies: [Note 6] it is unstable souls that wrest and pervert the Scriptures, that are only constant in inconstancy, and are tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine: Alas, these receive a new impression by every Sermon or Company, and as quickly part with, as they speedily close with a new notion, so that you cannot tel where to finde them: But now a sober solid, wel-taught Christian hath fixt the Staffe, and you may know where to finde him, and he knows where to finde his own Principles, he moves alwaies upon the solid Axle-tree of Scripture-truths and Duties, and by the help of this Sun can ordinarily finde his way in the dark mists of Errour, and by the hand of the Spirit he is led through the dark entry and narrow passage of Dutie to rest and satisfaction: hence it is said, that a spiritual man judgeth all things. [Note 7] i.e. that are doubtful, and is by this stock of directing graces assisted to behave himself wisely in a perfect way: Ps 101:2.

2.Treasure up subjecting graces, that may help you to bear Gods will, and freely to submit to his dispose: Such as patience, humility, self-denial, weanedness from the world, heavenly-mindednesse, and that Rare Jewel of Christian contentment in all conditions: Oh what a happie soul is that to which nothing can come amiss, that is furnisht for every storm? Paul was a brave Scholar in this suffering School, Phil 4:11,#

12.he had learned in all estates to be content: Its an hard task, and long Trade, but what cannot grace undertake and overcome, through the help of assisting grace? The truth is, a treasured Christian may say with David, [Note 8] My foot standeth in an even place, and so is stayd for all assays, as 'tis in Meeter: come what can come, the gracious soul will light upon his feet, and stand upright, and not wrench his foot by turning aside into crooked waies: as a good man lies square to every command of God, so he doth righteousness at all times: Wicked mens design is to push away the feet of the godly from their standing in holy paths and outward comforts, [Note 9] therefore must they make strait paths for their feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, Heb 12:13. i. e. Get a principle of health and rectitude in opposition to that way-ward and wandring disposition of heart that is naturally in all men, that you may not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, but hasten with a right foot in a straight course to the goal of Glorie: Grace strengthens the souls joints and helps against halting, Courage and holy resolution is a shooing of the Saints feet that they may walk steadily in slippery places: the whole Armour of God, even the precious stock of Christian graces wil fortifie the believing soul against the sharpest Encounters: Above all preparative for sufferings, there's none doth so bow the spirit to bear burdens, subject the heart to the Lords pleasure, help the soul to wait his leisure, and secure from danger, so much as that Heart-quieting grace of Faith: [Note 10] this is the way to strength and safety, a believing soul is fit for any condition, and wil live by his Faith when all things fail, [Note 11] nothing can daunt him, all things are easie: He is, saith an Ancient, invincible in labours, strong for dangers, rigid against pleasures, hardned against the alluring baits of the world: Oh the excellency and necessity of Faith, courage, and a Christian magnanimitie, a believing soul moves in an higher Orb than other Saints, as one saith, and leads up the van of the Militia of Heaven: Faith sets the soul as an impregnable Rock in the midst of the Sea, and splits the waves of mens malicious threats and hot revenge, so that it can say, as David, in God have I put my trust, I will not fear what flesh, what man can do unto me, Ps 56:4,#

11.Amongst other subjecting graces be sure you lay up a good treasure of that incomparable grace of meeknesse, which captivates the understanding to the obedience of Faith, and moderates the will to a due submission to the Lords dispose, and silenceth the lips against all murmuring expostulations: this precious grace takes all well that God doth, [Note 12] this precious grace take all well that God doth, and doth not rage against the Instruments, it yieldeth active or passive obedience to Superiours with chearfulness, though it dares not yield up its judgment to the guidance of any mortal man, or Church on earth, yet it meekly lyes under the censures and punishments of men, committing all to him that judgeth righteously, as Christ did, 1 Pet 2:23. These and such like suffering graces, and dispositions must Christians store up, that they may suffer according to the will of God, both for cause and call, and carriage in the sharpest conflicts they may meet with upon earth: The truth is, Sirs, You little know what lies betwixt you and the grave, you have not yet resisted unto blood, but you may: you little know what Religion may cost you, you may go through a long Vale of the shadow of death, to death, and fight with beasts at Ephesus, [Note 13] and then mount up in a fiery Charriot to Heaven: Sit down then and reckon the charges in building the Tower of Religion, and whether you have armor of proof to carry you through an Army of dangers and difficulties: [Note 14] Stock your selves for a storm, frame your backs for a burden, melt your wils into Gods Will, as you desire to hold out against fainting and despair, and as you desire to heat that blessed Eugè, and sweet Encomium, from Jesus Christ, in Rev 2:3-7—And hast born, and hast patience, and for my Names-sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted—to him that overcometh I will give to eat of the tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.#

3.Endeavour to treasure up profiting graces, I mean such as wil help you both in doing and receiving good: For the first, lay up such graces as wil render you serviceable in your places, Rom 14:19.—Let us follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edifie another, such as brotherly-love, or kindness, charity, meeknesse, forbearance, gentlenesse, condescention, mutual Sympathie, compassion to soules, and zeal for Gods glorie, a publick Spirit, and an heart to lament the sins and sufferings of the Church; 'tis a blessed thing to be of publick use, it adds lustre to what is truly good to be diffusive, and communicative. Some Christians have those useful gifts and graces, that others (though truly good) may want: the more good you have, the more good you may do; the Administration of the Spirit is given to eve-man to profit withal, 1 Cor 12:7. God layes in, that we may lay out, and we are to lay up great treasures on purpose that we may do the more good: that's an excellent expression of Luthers, [Note 15] that all things are made free by Faith, and all things are made serviceable by charity or love; It is the propertie and pleasure of a good soul to be doing good: Living Springs send forth streams of water, dead Pits must have all that they afford drawn out with Buckets; the fuller a gracious soul is, the more freely wil he communicate: there is as much comfort in doing, as in receiving good: you must be fitted for both, therefore pray for, and put on (as the Elect of God) bowels of mercy, kindnesse, humblenesse of minde, meeknesse, long-suffering, Col 3:12,#

13.that you may be disposed to glorifie God, edifie others, and serve your generations according to the will of God, and at last give a good account of your Talents and Stewardship: Blessed is the man that hath his Quiver full of these blessed shafts, Boxes full of Cordial Receits, whereby he may both wound sinners by admonition, and heal them by the sweet words of consolation. And then#

2.You had need treasure up profiting graces, i. e. such as wil help you to get good to your own soules by all Gods dealings with you: Mix the Word and Rod with Faith, receive all with meeknesse, bring forth fruit with patience: All that God doth is for our profit, even tokens of his anger is for our advantage, Corrections are for our instruction, [Note 16] partaking of his holinesse is the peaceable fruit of righteousness that God aims at in all our troubles: All things would work together for our good, if we had a receptive principle, to him that hath a treasure shal more be given, according to the proportion of grace received and improved: Ordinances would do us more good if we had grace to get good by them; an heart sanctified and stored with improving graces, is like Tinder, which soon takes fire, and is apt to keep it, till it be forced out: Naturalists observe, that Transmutation is easie in Symbolical Elements, such as agree in some prime qualities: Water is more easily turned into Air than into Fire: even so, an holy and spiritual heart wil be easily wrought on by holy and spiritual Ordinances: for here is an agreement in qualities, gracious qualities make the soul both receptive and retentive of heavenly impressions: grow in grace every day, and then you'l get good by all that God doth: There are several graces that dispose the soul to spiritual proficiency, as sensiblenesse, brokennesse, and tenderness of heart, fit to receive divine impressions, which plowes up, [Note 17] and prepares the ground for the seed: and then apprehensivenesse of spiritual wants, burdened with sin, breathing after God and grace with longing hungring desires, which capacitates the soul for both sanctifying and satisfying incomes: strength of Grace is usually seconded with sweet discoveries, 1 John 2:14. I write unto you young men, because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you: Strong and stored Christians have many precious Epistles from Heaven; That's the third.#

4.Treasure up persevering, perfecting and crowning Graces, furnish your hearts with such Graces as may help you through this world, and through death, and land you safe on the shore of Eternitie, such as these, sincerity, humility, faith, hope, love, the fear of God, delight in him, resignation to him, resolution for him, contempt of the world, desire of Heaven; if you have these Graces you shal never fail or fall: unsound Professors may and wil fall away, but such as are thus rooted shal grow up as high as Heaven, Hypocrites may ascend many steps towards Heaven, but he that hath sincerity at the bottom and perseverance at the top of this Ladder shal not miss of Glorie: O see to the uprightnesse of your hearts, and truth of your Graces, be not mistaken about your state, build high by laying the foundation low, if the root of the matter be in you, it shal not be eradicated; saving grace wil end in eternal Glorie: the girdle of Truth, the breast-plate of Righteousnesse, [Note 18] the shooes of Heroick Resolution, the shield of Faith, the Helmet of Hope, the Sword of Scripture-truths, and constant fervent prayer, wil help the conflicting soul to a glorious Conquest, and God wil set an inaccessible Crown upon the conquering Head of a persevering Saint: if you lay up persevering Graces, you shal hold on and hold out, if your love abound in knowledge and in all judgment, your soules shal be without offence till the day of Christ, Phil 1:9,#

10.What would you give Sirs, to come safely to Heaven? Why! Do but lay up a good foundation for your selves against the time to come, and thereby you do (as it were) lay hold upon eternal Life, 1 Tim 6:19: Press foward, and be aiming at perfection, take heed of (so much as) seeming to fall short: heap up such Graces, so many, and such degrees and measures of them, that an abundant entrance may be made for you into the Kingdome of Christ, 2 Pet 1:11. the great direction there prescribed is an addition of one degree of Grace to another, or rather of one sort of graces to another, and the word in Greek that's translated adde ye [vers. [Note 19] 5.] is an elegant allusion to Virgins dance, who link themselves hand in hand, and observe a decent order in their recreating exercises: and 'tis observable that the same word is used in ver. 11. to express the adding or ministring to such a soul the entrance into Glorie: to note to us, the nearness and propinquity betwixt the highest degrees of Grace and the state of Glory, the link and chain of divine Graces, reacheth from the first uniting Grace of Faith, to the God-injoying grace of perfect love, these Virgin-graces going hand in hand in a believing soul, lead it higher and higher, til they bring it into the Princes presence, and Bride-groomes Chamber: Oh how merrily wil you dance to heaven, with these concatenated graces! the Lord stil taking by the end of this golden Chain, and drawing your souls every day nearer to glory, for the same Apostle saith, We are kept by the power of God, through faith, to salvation, 1 Pet 1:5. So that the soul is happie, by the Lords keeping and acting the grace of faith; we shal persevere, by the assistance of God, as the efficient cause, and in the exercise and increase of all graces, especiallie faith, as the meanes: thus are Christians to treasure up all persevering graces, that they may not faint by the way, but hold out, and that their last may be more than their first, and this brave fabrick of grace may be raised up as high as Heaven: onlie I entreat you, be sure that you lay Christ for a foundation, and dig deep in humiliation; you'l never have a perfection of degrees, except you have a perfection of parts in integrity of heart; and you'l never reach glorie, unless Christ draw you with him, in his ascention by his merit, and spirit, therefore see to your interest, and then grow in grace, and if you do these things, you shal never fail.#