"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen."
Reader! What is it to grow in grace? Grace is an humbling principle. And what then can a growth in it be, but to be increasing in humbleness. If this growth was formed in any attainment of our own, I fear, that instead of an increase of humility, it would make me proud. Moreover, grace is wholly of God, and not of men. If I grow in grace, it must be growth in the grace, that is in Christ Jesus. As such it is wholly out of myself. Moreover the Lord saith, that in the close of our warfare, we shall remember and be confounded, and never open our mouth anymore because of our shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God! Ezekiel 16:63, I humbly conceive, therefore, that to grow in grace, is to grow more and more humble before the Lord, from this growth in grace bringing the Lord's people into a deeper acquaintance with the plague of their own heart. Our first discoveries of ourselves, under grace bring us but a little way in our exploring of our own corruption. The Lord doth by us, in the early manifestations of his grace, as he did by Israel when he brought them out of Egypt. It is said, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, lest peradventure, the people repent when they see war, and return to Egypt. But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. Exodus 13:17-18. So it should seem, for the most part, the Lord doth by his redeemed now, in bringing them out of the spiritual Egypt of sin and death. If the Lord were to bring us through the land of the Philistines, I mean, in bringing us at once to behold the depths of corruption in our fallen nature, what soul could survive the sight? But by little and little, leading us down, with increasing discoveries, to view the pit of our own corruption; how increasingly precious Christ becomes, in every new insight of our sins, and his mercy. Is not this to grow in grace?
But this, according to my view of this sweet scripture, will appear yet more confirmed, when we connect in our apprehension of it, what the Holy Ghost hath connected with it. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Surely, if by growing in grace, I grow more and more out of love with myself. I shall by that grace in Jesus grow more in love with Jesus. Exactly in the proportion I loath myself for my defilements, shall I love Jesus more for his holiness. As a growth in grace makes me more self-loathing, and self-abhorring, will not my knowledge; of my Lord, and his suitableness to me, render Him more desirable? Suppose Job were to tell the Church about his growth in grace? When were his highest attainments, but when in the view of Christ he lay lower in self-abhorrence than he had ever done before, and cried out in dust and ashes! Job 42:5-6. Suppose Isaiah were to give in his testimony of his apprehensions of the same subject? When were his thoughts of himself lowest, and of Christ highest? Was it not in that vision, when he cried out, Woe is me, I am undone; I am a man of unclean lips. Mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts! Isaiah 6:5, Let Daniel, holy Daniel, give his evidence. And when was his growth in grace at the highest pitch, but when he declared his comeliness was, turned into corruption? Daniel 10:8. When was Paul's? Surely, when after more than twenty years had passed from his conversion, he summed up his account of himself, in saying, that in, him, that is, in his flesh, dwelt no good thing. And, under the weight of it, he made that lamentable cry, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death. Romans 7:18-24. Reader! let your own heart say, if so be the Lord hath taught your heart, what is a growth in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but, like Paul, to feel daily more and more the plague of the heart, and therefrom to be more humbled in ourselves; while growing in the knowledge of Christ, and his all-sufficiency, to take increasing joy in him, and, with Paul, say, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
I shall only detain the Reader one moment longer, to observe, that the short but expressive doxology, with which the Apostle closeth his Epistle, I would recommend the Reader not to pass hastily over, and consider it as so many words of course. Certainly, the sacred writers could never intend such things by such praises. To hallow the Lord's name is the first strain of praise in the Lord's prayer. And the cause wherefore the holy men of old so often burst forth, in the midst of their writings, and at the beginning and end of them is, because their souls, being full of God's glory, their mouths in speaking, and their pens in writing, could not refrain to set it forth. It should be our desire, as it is our privilege, to do the same. Both these great Apostles; Peter and Paul, thus unite in praises to God and the Lamb. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen. Ephesians 3:21
REFLECTIONS
Glory be to God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Israel's God in covenant forever and ever! What praises thy people have now to offer, and what praises to all eternity, for thy love to the Church, in Christ! Praises to the Father's love, in his choice of the Church, from everlasting! Praises to the Son's grace, in marrying his Church, and redeeming her from all iniquity to himself; by his blood! And, praises to the Holy Ghost, for his love in regenerating mercy, and all his watchful care over the Church, from grace to glory!
And, Lord, while we praise thee, in thy distinguishing mercy, in founding the Church in Christ, presiding over it as the Almighty Minister, in the appointment of ordinances, and means of grace; and giving the whole scriptures of our God, by inspiration, to make thy people wise unto salvation, through faith, which is in Christ Jesus, we find renewed cause to praise thee, O thou eternal Spirit, for raising up this blessed scripture, by the instrumentality of thy servant Peter, to comfort thy Church with those glorious truths herein contained. Yes! most gracious Lord! it was not only meant to refresh the dying Apostle, in bringing to his recollection Christ's glory in the Mount; but the record of it was designed, as it hath often proved, still is proving, and will, to the end of time, be proved a blessed testimony to refresh the souls of thousands! Lord! let it frequently refresh my soul also! And, amidst all the scoffers of the present awful day, let thy people be always on their watch-tower, waiting the Lord's coming. And, in the mean time, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Farewell, Peter, while we bless thy Lord, and our Lord, for thy ministry, we find no less cause to bless the Lord for all the improvements in grace we receive, under divine teaching, for all that is recorded in thine history. The Church of God, in heaven and earth, have profited by it. And, ere long, will all join together in the same song of glory, praise, and power, to God and the Lamb, forevermore. Amen, and Amen.