The Light of God Compared to Fire (3)

(6) Fire, where it is present, is in some degree active. The least measure of grace works, as springing from the Spirit of God, who is compared to fire. Even in sins, when there seems nothing active but corruption, there is a contrary principle, which breaks the force of sin, so that it is not boundlessly sinful (Rom. 7:13).
(7) Fire makes metals pliable and malleable. So, grace, where it is given, makes the heart pliable and ready to receive all good impressions.
(8) Fire, as much as it can, sets everything on fire. Grace makes a gracious use even of natural and morally right things. What another man does only in a moral way, a gracious man will do in a godly way. Whether he eats or drinks or whatever he does, he does all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).
(9) Sparks by nature fly upwards. So, the Spirit of grace carries the soul heavenward and sets before us holy and heavenly aims. Where the aim and bent of the soul is towards God, there is grace, though opposed. The least measure of it is seen in holy desires, springing from faith and love, for we cannot desire anything which we do not believe first. These desires must be directed to spiritual things, such as to believe, to love God, not because of a particular emergency, in that one thinks one might escape some danger if one had grace, but as a loving heart is carried to the thing loved for the sake of some excellency in it. These desires also must be accompanied with grief when the desire is hindered, so as to stir us up to pray: 'Oh, that my ways were directed that I might keep thy statutes!' (Psa. 119:5).
(10) Fire, if it has any matter to feed on, enlarges itself and mounts higher and higher, and the higher it rises, the purer is the flame. So where true grace is, it grows in measure and purity. The Holy Spirit cleanses us by degrees to be suitable to so holy a Head.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Bruised Reed, pp. 42-44 [46-48]
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