more than damned can he, who glorify him not for his grace? And, to
he sure, none glorify him for his grace but those that close in
therewith, and submit themselves thereto. Talkers of grace are but
mockers of God, but flatterers of God. Grace God has exalted; has
set it upon the throne, and so made it a king, and given it
authority to reign; and thou goest by and nearest thereof, but wilt
not submit thyself thereto, neither thy soul, nor thy life. Why,
what is this more than to flatter God with thy lips, and than to lie
unto him with thy tongue? What is this but to count him less wise
than thyself, while he seeks glory by that by which thou wilt not
glorify him---while he displays his grace before thee in the world
from the throne, and as thou goest by, with a nod thou callest it a
fine thing, but followest that which leadeth therefrom? Tremble,
tremble, ye sinners, that have despised the riches of his goodness.
The day is coming when ye shall behold and wonder and perish, if
grace prevaileth not with you to be content to be saved by it to the
praise of its glory, and to the glory of him who hath set it upon
the throne. Acts 13: 38-41.

There is a spring that yields water good and clear, but the channels
through which this water comes to us are muddy, foul, or dirty; now
of the channels the waters receive a disadvantage, and so come to us
as savoring of what came not with them from the fountain, hut from
the channels.

This is the cause of the coolness, and of the weakness, and of the
flatness, and of the many extravagances that attend some of our
desires: they come warm from the Spirit and grace of God in us; hut
as hot water running through cold pipes, or as clear water running
through dirty convey ances, so our desires gather soil.