Possessors of True Grace

    They are enlightened. All that have grace have knowledge; though all that have knowledge have not grace: "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light."

    They have their hearts of stone taken away, and have a heart of flesh. Not all the stone taken away, but a change: "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." Every gracious soul is willing, begins to be reconciled to duty. He has the law written in the heart.

    They have repented of their sins, and do daily repent: "Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out."

    They have been with Jesus. They have seen their need of him. They have closed with him: "This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner." "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Whatever attainments we have that leave us short of Jesus are not grace.

    They are alive to God: "Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Try your spiritual life. Thou hast corruption. Art thou sensible of it?

    They have learned to pray. There is no soul truly gracious that does not pray: "Behold, he prayeth." This was the evidence of Paul's conversion. "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications." It is true, all cannot express themselves alike in prayer. But canst thou cry—Abba, Father?

    They love the word of God, his people, and his day: "His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." "We know that' we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."

    They are worshippers of God in the Spirit: "We are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." No hypocrite doth this.

    They are prepared for, and reconciled in some measure to, the whole will of God. To do it; and to suffer it: "He trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" This was the first word that grace spake in Paul.

    They desire more grace. Wherever true grace is, it hath a desire of its center and fulness. Fire tends upward. He that says he has grace enough, has none at all.