‘Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.’ I Pet 1:1.
The fifth and last fruit of sanctification, is perseverance in grace. The heavenly inheritance is kept for the saints, and they are kept to the inheritance. I Pet 1:1. The apostle asserts a saint’s stability and permanence in grace. The saint’s perseverance is much opposed by Papists and Arminians; but it is not the less true because it is opposed. A Christian’s main comfort depends upon this doctrine of perseverance. Take this away, and you prejudice religion, and cut the sinews of all cheerful endeavours. Before I come to the full handling and discussing of this great point, let me first clear the sense of it.
I. When I say, Believers persevere:
[1] I grant, that such as are so only in profession, may fall away. ‘Demas has forsaken me.’ 2 Tim 4:40. Blazing comets soon evaporate. A building on sand will fall. Matt 7:76. Seeming grace may be lost. No wonder to see a bough fall from a tree that is only tied on. Hypocrites are only tied on Christ by an external profession, they are not ingrafted. Who ever thought artificial motions would hold long? The hypocrite’s motion is only artificial, not vital. All blossoms do not ripen into fruit.
[2] I grant that if believers were left to stand on their own legs, they might fall finally. Some of the angels, who were stars full of light and glory, actually lost their grace; and if those pure angels fell from grace, much more would the godly, who have so much sin to betray them, if they were not upheld by a superior power.
L3] I grant that, although true believers do not fall away actually, and lose all their grace, yet their grace may fail in degree, and they may make a great breach upon their sanctification. Grace may be moritura, non mortua; dying, but not dead. ‘Strengthen the things which are ready to die.’ Rev 3:3. Grace may be like fire in the embers; though not quenched, yet the flame is gone out. This decay of grace I shall show in two particulars.
(1.) The lively actings of grace may be suspended. ‘Thou hast left thy first love.’ Rev 2:2. Grace may be like a sleepy habit; the godly may act faintly in religion, the pulse of their affections may beat low. The wise virgins slumbered. Matt 25:5. The exercise of grace may be hindered; as when the course of water is stopped. (2.) Instead of grace working in the godly, corruption may work; instead of patience, murmuring; instead of heavenliness, earthliness. How did pride put forth itself in the disciples, when they strove who should be the greatest! How did lust put forth itself in David! Thus lively and vigorous may corruption be in the regenerate; they may fall into enormous sins. But though all this be granted, yet they do not, penitus exeidere, fall away finally from grace. David did not quite lose his grace: for then, why did he pray, ‘Take not away thy holy spirit from me,? He had not quite lost the Spirit. As Eutychus, when he fell from a window (Acts 20:) and all thought he was dead - ‘No, saith Paul, there is life in him;’ so David fell foully, but there was the life of grace in him. Though the saints may come to that pass that they have but little faith, yet not to have no faith. Though their grace may be drawn low, yet it is not drawn dry; though grace may be abated, it is not abolished; though the wise virgins slumbered, yet their lamps were not quite gone out. Grace, when at the lowest, shall revive and flourish; as when Samson had lost his strength, his hair grew again, and his strength was renewed. Having thus explained the proposition, I come now to amplify this great doctrine of the saint’s perseverance.
II. By what means do Christians come to persevere?
[1] By the help of ordinances, as of prayer, the word, and the sacraments. Christians do not arrive at perseverance when they sit still and do nothing. It is not with us as with passengers in a ship, who are carried to the end of their voyage while they sit still in the ship; or, as it is with noblemen, who have their rents brought in without their toil or labour; but we arrive at salvation in the use of means; as a man comes to the end of a race by running, to a victory by fighting. ‘Watch and pray.’ Matt 26:6I. As Paul said, ‘Except ye abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.’ Acts 27:7 1: Believers shall come to shore at last, arrive at heaven; but ‘except they abide in the ship,’ viz.’ in the use of ordinances, ‘they cannot be saved.’ The ordinances cherish grace; as they beget grace, so they are the breastmilk by which it is nourished and preserved to eternity.
[2] Auxilio Spiritus, by the sacred influence and concurrence of the Spirit. The Spirit of God is continually at work in the heart of a believer, to carry on grace to perfection. It drops in fresh oil, to keep the lamp of grace burning. The Spirit excites, strengthens, increases grace, and makes a Christian go from one step of faith to another, till he comes to the end of his faith, which is salvation. I Pet 1:1. It is a fine expression of the apostle, ‘The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.’ 2 Tim 1:14. He who dwells in a house, keeps the house in repair; so the Spirit dwelling in a believer, keeps grace in repair. Grace is compared to a river of the water of life. John 7:78. This river can never be dried up, because God’s Spirit is the spring that continually feeds it.