(3.) Grace, when it comes, shows to a man more of the holiness and
patience of God; his holiness to make us wonder at his patience, and
his patience to make us wonder at his mercy, that yet, even yet,
such a vile one as I am should be admitted to breathe in the land of
the living, yea more, suffered to come to the throne of grace.
(4.) Grace is of a heart-humbling nature; it will make a man account
himself the most unworthy of any thing, of all saints. It will make
a man put all others before him, and be glad too if he may be one
beloved, though least beloved because most unworthy. It will make
him with gladness accept of the lowest room, as counting all saints
more worthy of exaltation than himself.
(5.) Grace will make a man prize other men's graces and gracious
actions above his own; as he thinks every man's candle burns
brighter than his, every man improves grace better than he, every
good man does more sincerely his duty than he. And if these be not
some of the effects of the renewings of grace, I will confess I have
taken my mark amiss.
(6.) Renewings of grace beget renewed self-bemoanings,
self-condemnations, self-abhorrences.
And say thou prayest for communion with, and the presence of God.
God can have communion with thee and grant thee his presence, and
all this shall, instead of comforting thee at present, more confound
thee and make thee see thy wickedness.
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