tugging and strong combats many times in the sinner's heart. Thus it was with the Scribes and Pharisees; conscience convinced them of the divinity of Christ, and of the truth of his being the Son of God: and yet a perverse will, and carnal affections, cry out crucify him, crucify him.-Conscience pleaded for him, he had a witness in their bosoms, and yet their wills were bent against him; and therefore they are said to have "resisted the spirit *," namely, the workings and convictions of the spirit in their consciences. And this is the case of many sinners: when the will and affections are for sin, and plead for it, conscience is against it, and many times frightthe soul from the doing of it. And hence men take that which opposes sin in them, to be grace, when it is only the work of a natural conscience: they conclude the strife is between grace and sin, the regenerate and unregenerate part; when, alas ! it is no other than the contention of a natural conscience against a corrupt will and affections.-And if so, then a man may have great strifes and combats against sin in him; and yet be but almost a Christian, 5. "A man may desire grace, and yet be but almost a christian"; so did the five foolish virgins; give us of your oilt"; what was that but true grace? it was that oil that *Acts. vii. 51. † Matt. xxv. 8. lighted the wise virgins into the bridegroom's chamber. They do not only desire to enter in, but desire oil to light them in; wicked men may desire heaven, desire a Christ to save them; there is none so wicked upon earth, but desire to be happy in heaven. But now here are they that desire grace as well as glory, and yet these are but almost ehristians. Objection. But is it not commonly taught, that desires of grace are grace"? nay, doth not our Lord Christ himself make it so ? Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled *" Answer. It is true, that there are some desires of grace which are grace: As, 1. When a man desires desires grace from a right sense of his natural state: when he sees the vileness of sin, and the woeful, defiled and loathsome condition he is in by reason of sin; and therefore desires the grace of Christ to renew and change him; this is grace. This some make to be the lowest degree of saving faith. 2. When a man joins proportionable endeavours to his desires; doth not only wish for grace, but work for grace; such desires are grace. 3. When a man's desires are constant and incessant, that cease not but in the attainment of their object; such desires are true *Matt. v. 6. grace. They are a part of the special work of the Spirit. They do really partake of the nature of grace; now it is a known maxim, "that which partakes of the nature of the whole, is a part of the whole"; the filings of gold are goid. The sea is not more really water, than the least drop; the flame is not more really fire than the least spark. But though all true desires of grace, are grace yet all desires of grace are not true: For, 1. A man may desire grace, but not for itself, but for somewhat else: not grace for grace's sake, but for heaven's sake; he doth not desire grace,that his nature may be changed, his heart renewed, the image of God stampt upon him, and his lusts subdued in him. These are blessed desires, found only in true believers. The true christian only can desire grace for grace's sake; but the almost christian may desire grace for heaven's sake. 2. A man may desire grace without proportionable endeavors after grace; many are good at wishing, but bad at working; like him that lay in the grass on a summer's day, crying out, "O that this were to work"! 66 Soloman saith, "The desire of the slothful kills him :" How so? For his hands refuse to labor ;* He perisheth in his desires. The believer joins desires and endeavors together: "One thing have I desired of the *Prov. xxi. 25. Lord, and that will I seek after".* 3. A man's desires of grace may be unseasonable; thus the foolish virgins desired oil when it was too late. The believer's desires are seasonable; he desires grace in the season of grace and seeks in a time when it may be found. "The wise man's heart knows both time and judgment." † He knows his season, and hath wisdom to improve it. The silly sinner doth all his works out of season; he sins away the seasons of grace, and then desires grace when the season is over: The sinner doth all too late, as Esau desired the blessing when it was too late, and therefore he lost it: whereas had he come sooner, he had obtained it. Most men are like Epimetheus, wise too late, they come when the market is done; when God hath shut in shop, then they have their oil to get. When they lie upon their death-beds, then they desire holy hearts. 4. Desires of grace in many are very inconstant and fleeting, like the "morning dew that quickly passes away : or like Jonah's gourd," that springs upin a night, and with ers in a night; they have no root in the heart, and therefore quickly perish: Now, if a man may desire grace, but not for grace's sake; if desires may be without endeavors if a man * Psalm xxvii. 4. Eccl. 8. 5, ¶ Jonah iv. 6. G may desire grace when it is too late; if these desires may be but fleeting and inconstant; then may a man desire grace, and yet be but almost a christian. 6. "A man may tremble at the word of God and yet be but almost a christian", as Belshazzar did at the hand writing upon the wall. Objection. But is not that a note of sincerity and truth of grace, to tremble at the word? doth not God say, "To him will I look that is of a poor and contrite spirit, and trembles at my word*"". Answer. There is a twofold trembling.1. One is, when the word discovers the guilt of sin, and the wrath of God that belongs to that guilt; this, where conscience is awake, causes trembling and amazement; thus when "Paul preached of righteousness and judgment, it is said Felix trembled+”. 2. There is a trembling which arises from a holy dread and reverence of the majesty of God, speaking in his word; this is only found in true believers, and is that which keeps the soul low in its own eyes. Therefore mark how the words run; "To him will I look that is of a poor and contrite spirit, and trembles at my word‡.” God does not make the promise to him that trembles at the word; for the devils believe and tremble; the word of God can make the proudest, stoutest sinner in the world to shake * Isa. lxvi, 2. † Acts xxiv. 25. + Isa. Ixvi. 2. |