4,,...........ammememerseasysrarraterwashasm=agenose...e:Imseam... A choice Bed of Spices. the fixth Maxim or C onfideration. c Ixthly, confider, .T hat 'tis granted on all hands, that the leaft degree of grace, if true, is fuflicient to faIvation ; for the promifes of life and glory, of remiffion and falva- don , of everlailing happinefs and , bleflednefs, are not made over to degrees of pace, but to the truth of grace, not to faith in triumph, but to faith in truth ; and therefore the fenfe and evidence of the leaft grace, yea of the leaft degree of the leaft grace, may afford fome meafure of atria- rance. Grace is the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22. and the Tree is known by his fruit, Mat. 1 2. 33. I don't fay, that weak grace will afford a ftrong affurance., or a full afturance (for that rather arifes from ftrength of g 'ace, than from truth of grace) but I fay, weak grace may afford fome affu- rance : ,And oh, that all weak Chriftians would ferioufly lay this to heart, for it may ferve to relieve them againft many fears, doubts, difcouragements and jealoufies , which do much difturb the peace and comfort of their precious fouls ; though the leaft meafures of grace can't fatisfie a fincere Chriftian, yet they ought to quiet his confcience,and chear his heart, and confirm his judgment of his interefl in Chrift. The leaft meafure of grace is like a Diamond, very little in bulk, bUt of high price and mighty value, and accordingly we are to improve it for our comfort and encourageme:lt. A Goldfmith makes reckoning of the leaft filings of gold, and fo ihould we.of the leafi meafares ofgrace. A man may read the Kings Image upon.a flyer penny., as well as upon a larger piece of coyn. The leaft dram of grace bears t:;e Image of God upon it ; and why then should it not -evidence the goodnefs and happinefs of a Chriflians eflat.e. It's a true faying, That the affurance of an eternal life, is the life of this temporal life. I have read, that Mr. 7orclain, one of the Aldermen of the City of Exeter, would ufe to ask growb Profeffors, whether they had any affurance ; which if they denied, he would tell them, that he was even afhamed of D them ; Mark. 76.16. John 3,16,36, Mat S. John 6, 409 An eminent Mi- Miter, who was a famous Mani- meat of convert- ing many to God, was wont to fay, that for his own pat he had no o- ther evidence in himfelf of being in the ftate of grace, than that fic waS fenfible of his deadnefs. Slight not the lovvell, the mean - e1} evidences of grace. t as thou thinkell, even that, I Job. ?. 74. that may be worth a chou. land worlds to thee. P little . -,at,e 33 .ot h choice drop f honey.
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