Several duties which the mysterious nature of the gospel imposes on believers 2/3

   (2.) Rest not in thy present practice, as it is a mystery of godliness.  Let not a little grace serve thy turn, when thou mayest have more; which that you may do,

           (a) Compare not thyself with those that have less than thyself, but look on those that have far exceeded thee.  To look on our inferiors occasions pride, ‘I am not this publican,’ saith the Pharisee; but look on other more eminent than ourselves will both preserve humility, and be a spur to diligence.  Miltiades’ vic­tories would not suffer Themistocles, then a young man, to sleep.  The progress that some have made in grace—didst thou but keep them in thine eye—would not suffer thee to be quiet, who art now lagging so far behind, till thou hast overtaken them.  May be thou hast got some victory over thy passion, and art not such a bedlam in thy fury as others; but didst thou never hear how meek a man Moses was, that could bear the murmurings of the multitude, yea envy of his brother and sister, and yet his heart not take fire? Thou hast some good affections towards God, but how far short of holy David’s zeal, whose heart did run out to God as soon as his eyes were open in the morning?  ‘When I awake I am still with thee.’ Thrice a day, yea seven times a day, he would praise his God. Thou hast some patience, but hast thou learned to write after Job’s copy?  Thou art not without faith, but art thou like Abraham—strong in faith to follow God when thou knowest not whither he will lead thee?

           (b) The grace thou hast will soon be less, if thou addest not more to it.  Thou art upon a swift stream; let thy oar miss its stroke, and thou fallest backward. There is not such a thing in religion as a saving trade of godliness.  Some men in their worldly trade can say at the year’s end they have neither got nor lost; but thou canst not say thus at the day’s end.  Thou art at night better or worse than thou wert in the morning.

           (c) It is the design of the gospel to give grace in great measures.  Christ gives life, ‘and that more abundantly,’ John 10:10.  Now shall the fountain be so large, and the pitcher we carry to it so little?  Where­fore doth God open his hand to such a breadth in the promise, but to widen our desires and encourage our endeavours?

           (d) The more grace thou hast got, the easier it will be to add to it.  A little learning with more dif­ficulty by a young scholar, than a great deal more afterwards.

3. Duty.  Bear with one another’s imperfections. You see the gospel is a mystery, do not wonder there­fore that any are not presently masters of their art. Christ bears with the saints’ imperfections; well may the saints one with another.  How raw were the dis­ciples in their knowledge—how long did they stand at one lesson before they could learn it!  ‘Do you now believe?’ says Christ, John 16:31.  He had borne with them long, and inculcated the same thing often, before it entered their minds; yet, alas! we can hardly have a good opinion of, or hold communion with, those that are not every way of our judgment, and cannot see things so clear as ourselves.  Surely we mistake the nature of the gospel, as if there were none but plain points in it.  Blessed be God, as to the prin­ciples necessary to salvation, though their nature be high and mysterious, yet they are clearly and plainly asserted in the word.  ‘Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness,’ I Tim. 3:16.  Godliness is a mystery, but it is ‘without controversy.’ As to the main fundamental points and practices of it there is no dispute among the faithful; but there are some points more remote from the vital parts of religion that have knots not easily untied, which makes some difference of judgment.  But it is not every excess or defect makes a monster—as six or four fingers on the hand—but an excess or defect in some principal part; neither doth every mistake make a monster in re­ligion.  Remember that the gospel is a mystery, and you will bear with one  another’s ignorance the better.  And, when love hath once laid the dust which passion and prejudice hath blown into our eyes, we shall then stand at greater advantage for finding out truth.