Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1838-12-05
GROW IN GRACE.

Tnis exhortatlon is directed to men, 10
believers. 1t implies, therefore, not only
increase, but such proportiona;e increase as
is consistent with continuing 10 be men and
believers For, the increase of grace ia
the soul is illustrated by the hcalthlul and
proportionate increase Of the body. Thus
Eph. iv. 16. From whom tue whoe
body 6tly joined together and compac'ed by
that which every joist supplieth, according
to the effeciual working in the measure OF
every part, maketh Increase OF the body,
unto the edifying Of i,selfin love-" Waeth.
er We consider this passage as relating to
the increase Of grace in the church, as the
mystical body Of Chris, or in the inl'vi-
dual believer, the Illustration is equally per.
tinent. It is drawn from the regular
growth Of the human body. AMI the
growth of man as man, is not tie IN
crease of one part merely, not the enlarge.
ment of an arm, foot, head, or eye, Off
tongue, bu the increase Of all together in
harlaonious proportion. The enlargement
Of one part alone makes monster, than
which nothing can be more incongruous,
as an illustr alton Of growth in grace. The
same view of growth in grace, is in an 'th~
er place, illustrated by the erection of a
building. Thus, Fph. ii2l; "ln whom
all the building, ti'ly framed together. grow
eth into holy temple. in the Lord" This
passage applies to the church, the mystical
body ofChrist. but it is equally applicable to
individual character, A building is erec-
ted, not by the Increase or multiplication Of
any kind Of material, not by a promiscu~
ous assemblage of posts, beams, plat S, or
raiiers not by an immense accumulation
of brick and mortar, but by a fly framing
together, of the requisite materials. And
the building gro,oeth unto an holy temple,
not by the increase in quantity Of the ma
terials, but by the f,ly framing together.
When therefore, we hear the eXhortatlon,
GROW IN GRACE, as addressed TO men, to
believers, what is its obvious and impor~
tant import ? Does it mean, the increase
of some graces, merely, which 60 to con-
stitnte the Christian character, or the in
crease ofthem all And does it mean the
increase, merely, of all, without respect 10
a due proportion, even that ftlu framing to-
gether. which is necessary 10 the beauty
and strength Of all bodies or ediices !
By understanding this and similar exhor.
tations as applying merely to the increase
of some things which, in their place and
duo proportion would be Christian graces,
the most fatal consequences 10 true relg-
ion, must ensue. For example, zeal, in its
place, and lis due proportion, is a grace.
and to grow in grace, is, in connexIon with
other things, TO increase in zeal. But take
zeal by itself, increase its power and actIv-
ity, without any due proportion Of humIli.
ty, love. and mcekn ,ss, and it becomes the
mos. wild bitter fanaticism. 1t produces a
monster instead of a Christian. So mod
Grafton, or charity, increased without due
proportion of decision and frmness, results
in servility and double-dealins which are
anything but grace. To confne our views
of Christian character 10 any one part or
feature, as the object of cultivation and
growth, isto grow out Of all shape and
Symmetry. 1t is as thoug the human
body were to increase only in one of its
members, while the residue remain staten
ary. How would giants arm or leg look
on an infant body?
And this view of the subject applies to
praetice as we'll as character. Grow IN
GRACE, is the exhortation. Grace means
Industry, says one. So without regard 10
apv,iing else, he works himself into aslave