More and More
“BUT HE GIVETH MORE GRACE.” — James iv. 6.
T)RACTICAL as is the Epistle of James, the apos-J. tie does not neglect to extol the grace of God, as unevangelical preachers do in these times.
We err if we commend the fruits regardless of the root from which they spring. Every virtue should be traced to grace.
We must clearly point out the fountain of inward grace as well as the stream of manifest service which flows from it.
The principle of grace produces the practice of goodness, and none can create or preserve that principle but the God of all grace.
If we fail anywhere, it will be our wisdom to get more grace.
See the bounty of God — ever giving, and ever ready to give more!
I. OBSERVE THE TEXT IN ITS CONNECTION.
1. It presents a contrast.” But he giveth more
grace.”
Two potent motives are confronted. “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy “; on God’s part this is met by “but he giveth more grace.”
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2. It suggests a note of admiration.
What a wonder that when sin aboundetht
grace still more abounds!
When we discover more of our weakness,
God gives more grace.
3. It hints at a direction for spiritual conflict.
We learn where to obtain the weapons of our warfare: we must look to him who gives grace.
We learn the nature of those weapons: they are not legal, nor fanciful, nor ascetical, but gracious — “he giveth more grace.”
We learn that lusting after evil must be met by the fulfilment of spiritual desires and obtaining more grace.
4. It encourages us in continuing the conflict.
As long as there is one passion in the believing soul that dares to rise, God will give grace to struggle with it.
The more painfully we mourn the power of sin, the more certainly will grace increase if we believe in Jesus for salvation.
5. It plainly indicates a victory.
“He giveth more grace” is a plain promise
that —
God will not give us up; but that he will more and more augment the force of grace, so that sin must and shall ultimately yield to its sanctifying dominion.
Glory be to God, who, having given grace, still goes on to give more and more grace till we enter into glory! There is no stint or limit to the Lord’s increasing gifts of grace.
II. OBSERVE THE GENERAL TRUTH OF THE TEXT.
God is ever on the giving hand. The text speaks of it as the Lord’s way and habit: “He giveth more grace.”
1. He giveth new supplies of grace.
2. He giveth larger supplies of grace.
3. He giveth higher orders of grace.
4. He giveth more largely as the old nature works
more powerfully.
This should be —
1. A truth of daily use for ourselves.
2. A promise daily pleaded for others.
3. A stimulus in the contemplation of higher or
sterner duties, and an encouragement to
enter on wider fields.
4. A solace under forebodings of deeper trouble in
common life.
5. An assurance in prospect of the severe tests of
sickness and death.
Seeing it is the nature of God to give more and more grace, let us have growing confidence in him.
III. BRING IT HOME BY SPECIAL APPROPRIATION.
1. My spiritual poverty, then, is my own fault, for
the Lord giveth more grace to all who be
lieve for it.
2. My spiritual growth will be to his glory, for I
can only grow because he gives more grace. Oh, to grow constantly 1
3. What a good God I have to go to! Let me re joice in the present and hope for the future. Since the further I go the more grace shall I know, let me proceed with dauntless courage.
Brethren, let us trust the liberality of God, try it by prayer, prove it by faith, bear witness to it with zeal, and praise it with grateful joy.
ENCOURAGEMENTS.
When Lord North, during the American war, sent to the Rev. Mr. Fletcher, of Madeley (who had written on that unfortunate war, in a manner that had pleased the minister), to know what he wanted, he sent him word, that he wanted but one thing, which it was not in his lordship’s power to give him, and that was more grace. — John Whitecross.
When a man gives a flower, it is a perfect gift; but the gift of grace is rather the gift of a flower
When Matthew Henry was a child he received much impression from a sermon on the parable ot the “mustard-seed.” On returning home, he said to his child sister, ‘” I think I have received a grain of grace.” It was the seed of the Commentary “cast upon the waters.” Charles Stanford.
I have grace every day! every hour! When the rebel is brought, nine times a-day, twenty times a-day, for the space of forty years, by his prince’s grace, from tinder the axe, how fair and sweet are the multiplied pardons and reprievals of grace to him! In my case here are multitudes of multiplied redemptions! Here is plenteous redemption! I defile every hour, Christ washeth; I fall, grace raiseth me; I come this day, this morning, under the rebuke of justice, but grace pardoneth me; and so it is all along, till grace puts me into heaven. — Samuel Rutherford.
Were you to rest satisfied with any present attainments to which you have reached, it would be an abuse of encouragement. It would be an evidence that you know nothing of the power of divine grace in reality, for
“Whoever says, I want no more,
Confesses lie has none.”
Those who have seen seen their Lord, will always pray, ‘* I beseech thee, show me thy glory.” Those that have once tasted that the Lord is gracious, will always cry, “Evermore give us this bread to eat.”
William Jay.
A little grace will bring us to heaven hereafter, but great grace will bring heaven to us now. — An
old Divine.
Oh, what a sad thing it is when Christians are what they always were! You should have more grace; your word should be, ego non sum ego — I am not the same I, or, nunc oblita mihi — now my old courses are forgotten; or, as the apostle, 1 Peter iv.
3, “The time past may suffice to have walked in the lusts of the flesh.” — Thomas Manton.
“Have you on the Lord believed T
Still there’s more to follow;
Of his grace have you received?
Still there’s more to follow;
Oh, the grace the Father shows!
Still there’s more to follow I
Freely he his grace bestows;
Still there’s more to follow!”