Who now, or which of them, had
their graces shining clearest, since both seemed to be alike? The
young man's, doubtless; for that which heads it against the greatest
opposition, gives best demonstration that it is strongest.
As nature, even where grace is, cannot without the assistance of
that grace do any thing acceptably before God; so grace received, if
it be not also supplied with more grace, cannot cause that we
continue to do acceptable service to God.
A present dispensation of grace is like a good meal, a seasonable
shower, or a penny in one's pocket, all of which will serve for the
present necessity. But will that good meal that I ate last week
enable me without supply to do a good day's work in this? or, will
that seasonable shower which fell last year, be, without supplies, a
seasonable help to the grain and grass that is growing now? or will
that penny that supplied my want the other day--I say, will the same
penny also, without a supply, supply my wants to-day?
The day of grace is the day of expense; this is our spending time.
Hence we are called pilgrims and strangers in the earth; that is,
travellers from place to place, from state to state, from trial to
trial. Now, as the traveller at the fresh inn is made to spend fresh
money, so Christians, at a fresh temptation, at a new temptation,
are made to spend fresh and a new supply of grace.
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