Works of John Bunyan: JUSTIFICATION BY AN IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS: SAVED BY GRACE. 365

 

THE THIRD USE.

Are they that are saved, saved by grace? Then, let Christians labor to advance God's grace. FIRST. In heart. SECOND. In life.

FIRST. In heart, and that in this manner—

First, believe in God's mercy through Jesus Christ, and so advance the grace of God; I mean, venture heartily, venture confidently, for there is a sufficiency in the grace of God. Abraham magnified the grace of God when "he considered not his own body now dead,—neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Rom 4:19,20).

Second. Advance it by heightening it in thy thoughts. Have always good and great thoughts of the grace of God; narrow and slender thoughts of it are a great disparagement to it.

And to help thee in this matter, consider—1. This grace is compared to a sea—"And thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19). Now, a sea can never be filled by casting into it.

2. This grace is compared to a fountain, to an open fountain—"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." Now, a fountain can never be drawn dry (Zech 12:1). 3. The Psalmist cries out concerning the grace and mercy of God, "It endures forever"; he says so twenty-six times in one psalm. Surely he saw a great deal in it, surely he was taken a great deal with it (Psa 136). 4. Paul says the God of all grace can do more than "we ask or think" (Eph 3:20). 5. Therefore, as God's Word says, so thou should conclude with the grace of God.

Third. Come boldly to the throne of grace by hearty prayer, for this is also the way to magnify God's grace. The apostle exhorts, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). See here a little and wonder.

We have been all this while discoursing God's grace, and now we are come to his throne, as Job says, "even to his seat," and behold, "that is a throne of grace." O, when a God of grace is upon a throne of grace, and a poor sinner stands by and begs for grace, and that in the name of a gracious Christ, in and by the help of the Spirit of grace, can it be otherwise but such a sinner must obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need? But do not forget the exhortation, "Come boldly." Indeed, we are apt to forget this exhortation; we think, seeing we are such abominable sinners, we should not presume to come boldly to the throne of grace; but yet so we are bidden to do; and to break a commandment here is as bad as to break it in another place.

You may ask me, What is it to come boldly? [I] answer—

1. It is to come confidently—"Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb 10:22).

2. To come boldly, it is to come frequently—"At morning, at noon, and at night, will I pray." We used to count the bold beggars that come often to our door.

3. To come boldly is to ask for great things when we come. That is the bold beggar who will not only ask but also choose what he asks.

4. To come boldly, it is to ask for others as well as ourselves, to beg mercy and grace for all the saints of God under heaven as well as for ourselves—"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit—for all saints" (Eph 6:18).

5. To come boldly is to come and take no nay; thus, Jacob came to the throne of grace—"I will not let thee go except thou bless me" (Gen 32:26).

6. To come boldly, it is to plead God's promises with him both in the way of justice and mercy and to take it for granted God will give us—because he hath said it—whatever we ask in the name of his Son.

Fourth. Labor to advance God's grace in thy heart by often admiring, praising, and blessing God in secret for it; God expects it—"Whoso of offered raise glorified," says he. "By Jesus Christ therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name" (Psa 50:23; Heb 13:15).