GIFT AND GRACE

Gifts may decay and perish. They do not lie beyond the reach of corruption. Indeed, grace shall never perish, but gifts will. Grace is incorruptible, though gifts are not. Grace is a spring whose waters fail not, but the streams of gifts may be dried up. He that did create it in us will conserve it in us. Gifts have their root in nature, but grace hath its roots in Christ; and therefore, though gifts may die and wither, yet grace shall abide for ever. Now, if gifts are perishing, then, though he that hath the least grace is a Christian, he that hath
the greatest gifts may be but almost a Christian

Matthew Mead