Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-09-13
&eadiua tur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
COrIginal.]
GROW IN GRACE.

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[orlgnall
GROW IN GRACE.
The proper meaning Of the word grace, al
used in the Scriptures, is the free, unmerited
favor which God bestows upon sinners through
the redemption of Jesus Christ. Wesay thii
is the proper meaning of the word grace; moi
because it is the only meaning which the
word has, but because it is the meaning which
it most frequently has in the New Testament
Not unfrequently We find the word grace used
by the inspired writers of the holy Scriptures
as synonymous with piety or religion. Evi
dently, this is the import of the word where
we are exhorted to "grow in grace" To
command US to grow in grace, is the same as
to command US to increase in piety.
There is an Importance in this subject
which we are liable to overlook. Jesus Christ
came into the world to save sinners To save
sinners, means, in its fullest sense, to rescue
them from the condemnation of violated
law and place them in heaven at the right
hand of God, where there are pleasures ever
more. Before the sinners can be saved, they
must have legal fitness for heaven. Mani
festly, God will suffer no one to enter heaven
who has no legal right to enter. The sinners
legal right to enter heaven is secured through
the doing and dying of the Lord Jesus Christ
The obedience of Christ secures for the be-
lever a iustifying Righteousness, and his
death takes away the guilt of sin. So soon as
the sinner accepts of Jesus Christ, he becomes
a Joint heir with Jesus Christ to heaven.
This is great thing, but it is not enough
to enable US to enter heaven. No man can
too highly estimate the favor which God be-
slows upon the believer, in that he gives him
a right to heaven. Still, legal right to
heaven and personal fitness for heaven, are
not the same thing. A son may have legal
right to bis fathers estate, but be personally
unfit to be put in possession of that estate.
Most evidently, all who have legal right to
a seat at Gods right hand, are not fit for that
place. Without holiness, no man shall see
the Lord. Without personal fitness for
heaven, no man will be permitted to enter
heaven. There is no sin in heaven, and nc
sinners will be allowed to enter that holy
place. Before we will be permitted to enter
the realms of bliss, we must have both title
and fitness for the place.
We are born into the kingdom of grace as
babes. This is the ordinary rule. We are
babes at first, and finally grow up to the
stature of perfect men in Christ Jesus. The
righteousness of Christ gives us title to
heaven, but our own Righteousness gives ua
fitness for heaven. Hence the necessity for
personal piety. .- -.
God has provided means by which we may
grow in grace. His word, both preached and
read, together with his providence, are admir-
ably fitted to prepare US for heaven. Through
the agency of the Holy Spirit, these instru'
mentalities possess wonderful power in en-,
Tightening the understanding, in purifying the
affections, and in subduing the will. In and
through the use of these means of divine ap'
pointment, believers grow in grace, die daily
unto sin, and increase in personal piety.
In religion, as in every thing else, there is
no absolute stand still. The child that is not
growing is wastiug awsy:-vfua refigiousnas'
pect, if we are not growing in piety, we are
increasing in sin. We are either maturing
for heaven or ripening for perdition. We are
at present either morally better or morally
worse than we were at any previous period in
the past. We are nearer the grave than We
ever were before, and, consequently, are near
er our final destiny.
We should not be Indifferent with regard
to the evidences that we are growing in piety
Our growth may be so slow that we may moi
be able to discover it only by the most care
full observation. Some children grow up fast
whilst others mature very slowly. Still, all
healthy children grow, and the growth of all
children can in some way be certainly dis
covered.
We may specify as general evidences o.
growth in grace: First: A relish for divine
things and dislike for sinful things. Pau
says: "When I was child I thought as q
child; but when I became man laid aside
childish things" By nature, all men love
sin; not the consequences of sin, but the
practice of SIM Now it is an evidence that
we are growing in grace, if we discover thai
we hate Sin, simply because it is sin.
Second: 1t is an evidence that we are grow
ing in grace, if we discover in ourselves 8
growing fondness to use the means which God
has appointed for our spiritual growth. Il
we are conscious that our love of the Bible
of the preached gospel, of the sacraments o.
the New Testament all grow with our years
this is an evidence that we are growing in fit
ness for heaven. We may safely conclude
that we are growing in piety, if we are dill
gent in the use of the means which God has
provided for such growth. The student who
pores over his books, constantly, may possess
only moderate endowments still, he will be
come learned. His progress may be slow, bu
it will be certain. Just so it will be with
those who use the means which promote thu
growth of grace Their progress may be
slow, but it will be sure, and in time plainly
discoverable.
s6% The faith of Christians being in genera
so weak, no wonder their love is so weak also
1t is the natural consequence of faith that il
works by love and the greater also is love
When we believe that God really has loved
US, and is '.just and faithful to forgive ou
sins ;" when we see that he hath already par
doned them, Christ having borne the punish
ment due unto them, then our hearts are stri
wing to obey the law, as covenant of works
and find perpetually that we fall short, NJ