Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-12-04
He Giveth More Grace.

That is good news. do not know that
ever heard better His giving great grace
at first does not exhaust his loving kindness.
1t is rather pledge that he will 90 on tc
do still more abundantly. We marvel to
see noble and virtuous prince marrying a
poor damsel. That is condescension. But
we marvel not to find that after he marries
her he treats her like a queen. The Lord
loved us, even when we were lost how
much more shall we be blessed of him when
we have been accepted in the Beloved.
know no stronger or fairer reasoning than
that.
Even little grace is a great thing. 1t is
so rich and valuable that God never puts it
into any but vessels of mercy. 1t is so ex-
cellent that whoever has grace has the
promise of glory, if ! understand the
prophet psalm lxxxiv: y. Grace leads
to glory as certainly as sin leads to misery.
The apostle says the Lord gives grace to
the humble. The proud refuse grace. They
think they are good enough, and can do
without it. II is with empty pitchers that
we must draw water from the wells of saliva
ton. The Lord knoweth the proud afar
off. The reason why those who have grace
have not more grace is, because they do not
sufficiently humble themselves under the
mighty hand of God. o poor humanity
The grace we have to-day is seldom, if
ever, enough for tomorrow. We, therefore,
need a constant increase Fresh supplies of
food are daily needed by the healthy laborer.
1t is great thing for saint to gain one
victory. That shows him that, by Gods
grace, he can overcome. But David's slay-
ing of the lion and the bear did not make
him victorious over Goliath. 1t was God
who gave him the victory in each case.
Himself said so. But his experience as
shepherd-boy encouraged him when he met
the pride of Philistia.
One of our great errors is, that we are
satisfied with little God warns us on
this point. al am the Lord thy God,
which brought thee ont of the land of
Egypt open thy mouth wide, and | will fill
it." | have done great things for you al
ready; look to me, and will do more for
you. We are not straitened in God, but in
our own compositions. o that our hearts
were enlarged We need full salvation, and
it is provided. Let us come and drink
abundantly.
He gives more grace when we need it,
Dying grace is not given to the living. To
fight well is often our highest duty. To
exult in God through Christ will be a
blessed privilege indeed; but the spoils
come after the battle. Harvest is preceded
by ploughing and sowing. Peace will come
soon enough, and will last long enough.
But let us never rest satisfied with past
attainments. The secret of Paul's great
growth is told us by himself: Not as
though had already attained, either were
already perfect; but follow after, if that
| may approhoud tliaL fol which also I aua
apprehended of Jesus Christ.
press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus"
Wellington did not think his work done till
after the affair at Waterloo. Our work
will not be done till we get our crown.
We need, and to the last shall need, more
grace. Whatever convinces us of our need
is good for us, and it is great thing to know
that we are poor, if we only may lay hold
of the unsearchable riches of Christ 1t is
blessed thing to know our misery, if we
are but led to find solace in Christ. None
ever gets the linen white and clean who
esteems his own righteousness as anything
but filthy rags.
We may confidently trust him for more
grace, because he sincerely offers it, because
he says he will give it, because he knows
we need it, because he has given it to mil
lions, aud because he has given us some al
ready, and that is pledge of more For
when did he ever begin to build, and find
himself unable to finish When did he
ever bid us ask in vain He never mocks
any soul that cries TO him for mercy while
life lasts.
He GIvETH MORE GRACE. Then ! will
praise him, love him, trust him, give him all
my heart and all my confidence Presbyterian.