for a peâ—rlâ— Act. 18.25 or the devill for holy water They thinke religion with Gallâ— 1 Pet. 3. â—5 to be buâ— a matter of â—ames and â—ords No reason can they render of their faith The best signe of their Christendome is that they were bâ—ptized and O that their liues would testifie so much But if thâ—y cry out they are no drunkards nor swearers no theeues nor vsurers nor Papists nor Puritans goe to Church heare a Sermon receiue as they call them their Easter rightings and contribute to a Preacher why then they imagine they haue strucke all dead We can say the best sort of such our Creed and our confession our ten Commandements and our Pater noster And what need we more Will not this serue our turne Who would not pittie these people And mourne for their miserie What heart so hard will not weepe over our Ierusalâ—m Luk. 19.41 And with Ieremie wish that his eyes were a fountaine of teares Ier. 9.1 to bewaile the slaâ—ne of the daughter of this ignoâ—aâ—t nation What sinne more dangerous More generall than this no knowledge of Christ Iesus And what lesse regarded Lamented Every man in his place strives to be his crafts-master ignoraÌ„ce of al kinds is hated condemned yet this we haue in hand is too much affectâ—d hath great many friends May not the Prophetâ— of these times cry with them of former ages Isa 49.4 we haue spent our strength in vâ—ine Hos 4.6 And the people perish for want of knowledge Heare this O ye sonnes of Adam 2 Thes 1.8 Will not God come in flaming fire to render vengeance vpon all who know him not Mat 15.14 And if the blind lead the blind shall not both fall into the ditch of condemnation Vnderstand this at the last that ignorance is the roade way to death and hell And whosoeuer treades her hidden steppes shall take vp his lodging in the land of everlasting darkenesse Be not deceiued God is not mocked For what a man soweth that shall he reape He therefore who scattereth the seedes of ignorance shall gather the ricke of endlesse perdition and destruction Vse 3 And you who haue so much knowledge of Christ as thorow the vnsearchable mercie of God may serue to saue your soules be not content therewith but be filled with Spirituall wisdome Col. 1 9. and vnderstanding The more thou seest into this mysterie the greater will be thy admiration Take a strict view of the secret worke of the whole frame of nature with the most skilfull and curiouâ— inventions of profoundest men alas the better we vnderstand them the lesser is our astonishment at them But it is not So with this and these thingâ— we haue in hand For as our knowledge increaseth â—f Christ and of his acts of old the more wonderfull will they appeare vnto vs because no found reason can be rendred of the forme of his person or manie of his proceed â—gs And truly as our â—nowlâ—dge is augmented our loue will be inflamed our faith confirmed And all the actions of grace the which flâ—w from vs bettered A man oâ— vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit Pro. 7 27. His affections burne within him his confidâ—nce is immoueable and his hope never faileth fainteth why was Paul so resolute to doe all things 2 Tim. 1.12 Suffer all things He knew him whom he had trusted that the Gospâ—ll was the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 the which he Preached professed O that we could tread in this mans stepps be like minded to him He would reioyce in nothing but Christ speake and spread nothing but him 1 Cor. 1.1 c. He was never wearie in naming of him and therefore in nine verses he ten-times makes mention of him Christ was the obiect of his vnderstanding will affections faith feare Col. 3.11 yea all in all How would he chant it with his tongue penne when he smelled this sweete savour Pleasant odour This sent like sugar did sweeten all the bitter sorrowes he sustained like a pretious graine of Muske perfumed his most stinking afflctions What marvaile then if he desired to know noâ—hing else but Christ Iesus and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 For what is the exactest knowledge without him But a blinde vnprofitable science Faith But a wild groundlesse confidence Patience Except a stupid sencelesse blockishnesse Or any internall habits Morall actions But sowre grapes Glistering vices And though vnto some this may seeme a paradox yet a Christians who hath a sound mind is a thorowly-well furnisht Artists A Logician For he can argue disput and render a reason of his religion by the never-erring dictate of the spirit A GraÌ„marian who speakes and that distinctly with a new tongue the language of Canaan as a Saint an Angell A Rhetorician for he is able by his pronunciation to pierce the highest heavens procure audience and prevaile with the King A Geometrician measuring the height depth and breadth of the best and greatest Globe the Loue of God An Arithmetician numbring the dayes of old and future ages sinnes pardoned prevented iudgements inflicted remooued favours conferred promised and all things how they are now ordered and in their due season for ever shall be established A deepe Eagle-eyed Philosopher that discernes betwixt grace and nature flesh and spirit And O great secret how the bodie followes the temperature of the soule in a regenerate Person Without controversie he who knowes Christ knowes all things he that is ignorant of him 1. Cor. 81.2 nothing as he ought to know And in this sence as many more Christ may be said to be all in all to Iew Gentile Col. 3.11 to Barbarian Scythian Vse 4 And O thou purblind want and dul-sighted moale get wisdome get vnderstanding of Christ and forget not Seeke into these mysteries search into these so profound depths for they are more pretious than pearles And all thou canst desire are not to be compared to them Meanes thou hast if thou haue an heart motiues strong and many if thou wilt be allured He who would be skilfull in any science wil he not read the choâ—cest authors Purchase the most ancient manu-scripts And be a companion to the cunning Artist Shall we not then doth is and more too for the gaining of so excellent knowledge What if it make not such a stirre and ratling in the world as others Is any like it To be equalled to it If thou wander in thy spirituall progresse Ioh 16 6. is not Christ thy leader Art thou in doubt Is not he the author Heb. 12.2 Finisher of thy faith Dost thou faint he is thy life and length of daies Deu. 30.20 Are not the holy letters the swadling-bands wherein the babe Iesus is wrapped That I say not the expresse image of his person 1 Cor. 9.22 Is he not made all things compared to all things that he might win some of each ranke
that time had acquired obtained But be it granted that the habit cannot be decreased yet the acts without doubt may be remitted being by some strong enemie from within or without vs opposed the Sunne may be eclipsed his beames restrained when his bodie remaines perfect nothing wasted So is it here However though we thus write we are of opinion that were this Spirituall cessation of long duration it would greatly in danger the habit For as we haue sayd it growes by vse decayes by disvse as we find by experience that naturall habits doe by naturall operations relaxations Obserue further that this decay of the habit and acts of grace be Totall Habituall falling subdivided Partial Totall When the habit is wholy destroyed or all the acts of it vniversally suspended the former befell Adam of speciall grace at the creation Rom. 5.14 And Alexander of common after mans redemption But this kind of fall we take it is not in this place by our Apostle intended 2. Tim. 4.14 nor incident to them who are vnto Christ Iesus by the Spirit vnited Partiall is for the habit of grace may be decreased and its acts remitted in the most regener at person Now this latter kind Is Inward Outward Inward in Iudgment then in the will and affections For the vnderstanding may not only be weakned from the cleare appreheÌ„ding of the truth formerly obtained but also Gal 3.1 as in the Galatians with errour corrupted For they fel froÌ„ the doctrine of iustification in the true rule ground of it mixing their owne workes with the obiect matter of it which is Christ and his obedience actiue passiue This was their iudiciall fall Againe in the will and affections Rev. 2.4 Video meliora c. there may be partiall decay This was the fall of the Church of Ephesus which is sayd to haue left her first love And a truth it is that a man may hold the doctrine sound in respect of iudgment and yet fall from it in regard of practise For the hahit of grace in the vnderstanding is distinct from that in the wil affections whence spring these various declinings And as inwardly So outwardly may we fall from the acts of grace the which in time past we haue performed Dauid doubtlesse was sound in iudgment when he fell so foully in his practise And a man may haue a will to do well when the externall effects may be blasted Psal 39.1.3 as of Peter in the deniall of his master The Prophet purposed to looke to his waies not to offend with his tongue 2 Cor. 16.10 But this was too painful for him therfore he spake vnaduisedly with his lips When that Godly king imprisoned the Seer his iudgment was sound yet his practise corrupt But ordinarily when the inward asts be remitted then the outward are stinted II. Thus having finished the first thing proposed we proceed to the second the causes of these declinings And they be Within vs. Without vs. Causes from within vs. Melancholie for its a true axiom that the soule followes the disposition and temperature of the body the forenamed humour hath various and strange operations drawing a blacke and mournefull curtaine over the New-man casts hidious conceits into the minde and presenteth to the eye of reason the manifold mishapen ougly formes of approaching death burnes and consumes the purest spirits the immediat instrument of the soules acts Or so clogges them with thicke fumes that she cannot lift vp the wing and soare into the third heaven but like a weather-beaten or limed fowle falls downe and makes her motion on the earthie Center creepes on the Globe And Dailie hourly raiseth such cogitations as these Loue why thou art but passion zeale furie ioy madnesse hope a groundlesse conceit And all the graces of the spirit but the operations of meere nature or a more pure disposition of corporall temperature whence it often comes to passe that such who be pestered with the forenamed peccant malady complaine of the soules corruption when it s nothing else but the bodies bad indisposition grow thereby to be out of heart cease from spirituall action and so consequently fall from their former setlednesse He who is ignorant of this thing well may he be an aged person but I am sure no expert Christian. 2. Some raging lust vnmortified affection When such a passenger is in the ship of mans soule like another Ionah it will vnsettle all Was not David strong in the grace of God How came it to passe then that he in some degree fell from his former stedfastnes Why he was of an hot Sanguine complexion which provoketh much to the sinne he committed 2. Sam. 11. now being not carefull enough to curbe that natural pronenesse of certaine was an internall cause of his foule declining Gen. 39.12 Ioseph in this it seemes out-stript him For he resisted though strongly tempted was likely as yong as David had none he six wiues as appeareth And had he disputed with flesh and bloud as forcible arguments to haue allured him What a broade differeÌ„ce was this for David a king to goe in to a subiect and Ioseph a servant to runne from his mistris had noe more bin mentioned Was not his sonne Salomon Neh. 13.26 in his youth a rare yong man Yet in his elder yeeres carried away with outlandish women Why so in plaine english his lust was let loose his affection not mortified He trod not in the steps of holy Paul who laboured with his hands 1. Cor. 9. vlt. fasted often brought his body into subiection that the flesh might not over-master the spirit The like might be the fore-runner to Noahs drunkennesse Lots incest and his wiues looking backe to Sodome If the reines hang vnder his feete the strongest readiest footed beast may stumble catch a fall Cut all the feet equall the table stands stedfast else not 3. Vnbeleefe this workes greater woundes in the soule than ever any mountebanke profest to cure in the bodie It as a moth the garment eates vp the glosse of grace like the worme the Gourd of Ionah smits faith at the roote causeth it to wither and makes the acts thereof feeble liuelesse What mists will this Iugler raised in our vnderstandings Earthquakes within vs Blinde the eie of reason to question common principles Doubt of what we haue knowne by experience How subtilly will this Sophister argue Dispute What Are not all things alike from the beginning Where is the promise of Christs câ—mming 2. Pet. 3 4. When shall the Iewes be called Rome ouerturned Gog and magog destroyed And all Israel saved Mala. 3.14 Are not the wicked advanced Isa 59.15 They who tempt God delivered And he that refraineth from evill made a prey What profit is there in serving the Almightie Seeking the kingdome of heaven Calling vpon the name of the Lord Art thou not poore Despised Psal 37.1.2 c. Persecuted Who flourish
weary in getting or spending Want the least skill omit any oportunitie vntill he become immooueable invincible in a setled path of impietie He is reputed a lazie person a destroyer of good fellowship and deserues the whipping post And notwithstanding all this if they liue in Palpable ignorance obtaine not the knowledge of holy things never acquire one graine of faith procure the weakest Anchor of hope purchase any sacred feare of the most high learne not how to Call vpon God Confesse their sin petition for what they would haue and to be constant in well doing though they haue time meanes for all these and their saluation depends thereon Yet God and Man must hold them excused O heartlesse people Most vnhappie generation Vse 2 At the second step this serueth to taxe such who holding that this stedfastnes may be had yet striue not for it These haue a price in their hands but no willing hearts Luk. 14.19 One must as in old time goe veiwe his farme a second prove his Oxen a third burie his father And a fourth married a wife that he cannot stand about it Some log or other letteth We haue too few rooted in knowledge grounded in faith or stablished with hope Psal 107.27 Every windy doctrine puffes them out of the way makes them stagger and reele like a drunken man The report of a Cannon will cause a faint hearted souldier to quake to tremble And any terrible tidings 1. Timo. 1.19 constraine many to Shipwracke their faith split a good conscience in peices Some as Naball are halfe dead at a threate 1. Sam. 2 5.37 Iudg. 9.36 others with Gaal for all their boasting feare the very shaddow of a mountaine Doe not many among vs read the Bible as beasts runne into bushes on stormie rainie daies Heare a sermon as he who hath an ague mooues his body when they feele the fit to come vpon them Pray as the deafe man speaks when God roundes them in the eare by some heavie iudgment sing Psalmes as beggers worke never but and scarcely then when authoritie inioynes them Giue almes as Iordan fills hir banks rarely in a yeares revolution And receiue the Sacrament when the silly Papists eate an egge to shame Lent and themselues too and that 's but once per annum and then at Easter our Vnderstandings are seldome set on God the Obiect of all perfection our affections with great difficultie are raysed to him our faith fixed on his never failing promises And our wills be weakly bent to runne the pathes of his Commands so that as the Leper cryed I am vncleane I am vncleane We may we are vnsetled we are vnsetled He is one of a thousand who can truly testifie of himselfe that he meditateth vpon God relieth on him and hath his heart firmely fixed on the Lord for some in a great degree lose the very habit of grace others the acts thereof and the most with much wavering hold what they haue obtained Are we not tossed like a feather by the wind Carryed about as a Cocke-boate with the least gust Rev. 2.4 ready as Peter to sinke after a few steps made on the water With Ephesus We haue left if not lost our first affection run from the husband of our youth mispent our portion Hos 2.7 And as the Dog to his vomit 2. Pet. 2.22 the Sow to hir wallowing in the mire turned to our former wickednes and lapt vp that sinne which in times past we had spued out with great eagernes greedines They who like the Galathians receiued their Ministers as an Angell of God are growne slacke Gal 4.14.15 in giving to him his deserued honour yea peradventure would were the power of their hands equall to the malice of their hearts plucke forth his eyes do him a mischiefe but beloved these things are not ought not to be so Vse 3 And to make a further progresse in following the point if a Spirituall stedfastnes may be procured Let vs try whether we or no haue obtained it Hath the Oldman receiued his deaths wound is he peirced thorow the sides Broken in peices Not able to stand Doth the New feed sat grow strong sing like birds in the pleasant spring is the eye of thy mind opened to see clearely the wonders of the law Deepe mysteries of the Gospell With the vanitie of all Earthly things Is thy soule filled with Faith Loue Hope and all the graces of the holy Ghost Is the pulse of the flesh feeble Of the Spirit firme Canst thou preach in season out of season Heare without wearines Pray Continually and beare crosses with Contentation Dost thou hunger after the bread of heaven Thirst for the water of life And that as often as for thy appointed foode Where be thy thoughts for the most On God or the World Earth or Heaven What are thy words ordinarily Corrupt or Sanctified Thy Actions Good or Evill To be briefe art thou strong in the the Lord and his mightie powâ—r As able now to fight the good Ioshua 14. fight of faith as Caleb was the battels of his God many yeares agone Is thy life ever flowing with the streames of holines as a never dying Spring Thy last crop better then the first And thy meate and drinke daily to doe the will of thy heavenly Father Then be of good comfort Ioh 4.34 forthy labour in the vse of the meanes 1. Cor. 15. vlt. hath not been in vayne in the Lord. But alack How many are ever learning 2. Tim. 3.7 and never come to the knowledge of the truth Full of vnbeleefe noâ—withstanding their long profession of the Gospell And scarce worthy to be numbred among the stedfast For Catechise our people how many know little Nothing Look into their actions are they not vnsetled Follow them home veiw their order there And how few call vpon God desire his blessing Or with the Noble Bereans Acts 17.11 search the Scriptures to boult out the truth they haue heard May not the Ministers complaine of our people as did there Master how long must we be among you When will you procure this stedfastnes Mar. 9.19 O yee of little faith Lesse stabilitie We Preach and you heare we Pray and you too in appearance we giue and you receiue Angels foode Mat. 6.30 bread from heauen the Sacred body of the Lord Iesus and yet you are not it s to be feared established Men like a green Nut sticke still in the husk are shaken as the reed with the least winde weake they be as water and haue need notwithstanding the long time and great meanes they haue enioyed to learne the first principles of religion Heb. 5.12 But is this well done Will God thinke we take it well at our hands Or be contented to receiue his talent with so great damage disadvantage Vse 4 But now to finish our course in the pursuing of this doctrine seeing it may be had strive we
not to the weakest member I haue no need of thee make no pharisaicall comparisons Luk. 18.11 c. lest the Publican goe away iustified thy selfe not Haue I not seene yong converts outstrip the aged Thessalonica was not first called yet exceld her sisters Davids worthies were they all the eldest sonnes Consult and giue sentence 4. Also avoide sinne Thess 5.22 abstaine from every appearance of evill Aboue all things doubtingly doe nothing the least slip makes way to a fall any wavering act will vnsettle the soule When men grow over-bold in walking neere the brinke at vnawares may they tumble downe He who will doe all he may shall now and then do what he would not I am sure should not A smal moate in the eie wil weaken it cause it to water And to discerne the externall obiects but darkly dimmely Is not that man blessed Rom. 14.22 23. who condemneth not himselfe in the thing which he alloweth And he that doubteth if he eate is he not condemned For he doth it not of faith And an act not effected in faith is it not a sinne Overventurous Merchants haue lost all 5. Neglect no meanes not the weakest Everie ordinance of God is good if lawfully vsed What if it begin not the worke May it not further it When the children of the Church hang all on one breast haue not their mothers teates in any equall proportion of acceptation shall not the father draw that dugge dry we so much desire to sucke at With-hould the milke of grace from flowing thereat thorow into the Cisterne of our soules And as none are to be reiected So with constancie let them all be vsed Rather had I for the cursorie performance of a dutie be checked than for a totall omission condemned Wherefore heare read meditate pray however dully deadly for intermission will not helpe but hinder against another season 6. Consider that they only who persevere shall but besaved all revolting Apostate must perish What the which is necessarie if thou recover Will it not cost thee much toile Great torment grace once lost is not with ease regot This playing at get againe as Gamsters speake is alwaies without comfort often without commoditie If there be therefore any true ioy in thy soule the least spark of the Spirit kindled cherish it conserue it Reade not these things without regard view them not with a slight eie but with anxious devotion the most serious meditation Let others harmes teach thee to beware And know this one thing for certaine it may be the Preacher speakes by experience Rev. 2.4 that if thou loose thy first live thou wilt be wearie of thy life never eat or drinke with comfort And but a dreame of death will cause thy haire to bristle Iob. 5. vlt. thy hart to tremble in thy body Heare this and learne it for thy selfe for thy good Vse 6 And this doctrine may serue to instruct those who be about to step into the way and course of a Christian that they looke faâ—re before-hand what another day may bring foorth what they are incident vnto Some become proselits pricke forward at the first but a none giue in and tyre Where lies the cause They knew not that grace got might be lost stedfastnes obtained much decayed A wise builder casts vp his accounts not only what expence it will cost him to lay the foundation reare the wall steake the roofe paint and perfect the whole edifice but also being finished to support it conserue it This vse Christ Iesus the cheife Architector makes of it presseth it seemeth from the same ground And backes it with a strong reason For if he doe not will not his neighbors mocke hâ—m Luk. 14.29.30 and say This man began to build but was not able to make an end Wherefore thou that art almost a Christian and resolued altogether to be one minde this And to my power at this thy entrance I shall lend thee my helping hand 1. Rules of direction for yong converts Before thou set a foot in this good way place one stone in this new building be carefull to lay a sure foundation He who errs in the entrance the further he travailes of necessitie must the more wander And that house which is founded on the vnsetled sends Mat. 7.24 of certaine will fall Ignorance of the truth and worth of our profession are the ring leaders to bacâ—slyding What made the Apâ—stles and common people so resolute being opposed persecuted imprisoned They knew the words of eternall lâ—fe that the Gospell they preach and professed Ioh. 6.68 Rom. 1.16 was the power of God to saluation He who begins well may ende well when he that doth not without a change cannot Col. 3.2 2. In the next place withdraw thine affections from the things below Fixe them on things aboue No man can serue two contrarie masters Mat. 6.24 God and mammon For follow the one And flee from the other The yong man who had great possessions possessing his hart at the first step gaue backe the like made Demas to revolt When men will be Christs Disciples and shake not hands with this world Amos 3.6 they never stand The old saying was is there any evill in a Citie and God hath not done it Thus Now is there any back slider and the loue of money hath not turned him 1 Cor. 7.31 He who would dye rich in grace must resolue to liue poore or as the wicked their knowledge vse the world as if he vsed it not 3. See thou prepare for the worst as hope for the best Mat. 10.34 He who is forearmed must be forewarned Christ told his followers he came to set fire cause the sword The Iew expecting peace and prosperitie when his hops failed fell from the faith Haue I not beheld a man in a common muster march in furie Charge and discharge Breake pike vpon pike as one skilfull valorous And for all this in a hot skirmish the report of a peice hath caused him to quake the fall of his next fellow strucke him with so great a feare that he hath stood as one halfe dead and gathering heart was first in the flight Wherefore if thou wouldest prooue a worthie warriour of Iesus Christs campe Heb. 22.1.4 fit thy selfe to fight in the Cannons mouth to resist vnto blood For vnexpected crosses wound deepe kill deadly 4. And when thou hast gone this three fold step then march on with deliberation Mat. 26.70 For violent motions though sometimes strong yet seldome are the pâ—rmanent Aguish fits breed flushings blazing Comets soonest fall hastie curres bite least heady horses quickly tire The trumpets sound was lowder lowder So a Christians pace should be faster faster The wind riseth by degrees the spirit bloweth stiffest last else suspect its a counterfeit blast Grace may in this without danger imitate nature Shall you not see a weake spring breake foorth at the side
is so simple not to aske the right way as to demand if he doe not wander Brethren take heed therefore what you heare how you heare lest it be for the worse not the better as after a flash of lightning we expect thunder So when admonition is gone foorth have an eye to direction to caution But we will step to the words themselues where let it be noted that Doct. 2 Growth in grace is required of a Christian Ephe 5.18 and 6.10 Name me one Church not called vpon to practise this dutie Doth not the Apostle bid the Ephesians 2. Cor. 13 11. be strong filled with the spirit The Corinthians to be perfect 1 Thess 4 1 The Thessalonians to abound more and mâ—re His Son Timotheus 2. Tim. 2.1 to be strengthened with grace Are not the righteous said Psal 84.7 to goe from strength to strength Pro. 4.18 And to shine more and more till the perfect day Reas 1 For it s a thing commendable What more praise-worthie than grace Psal 4 c. Shall not then the increase therof be laudable Augmentation of any good subiect Rev. 5.2 hath in the holy letters due commendation For are not Psalmes dedicated to him Acts 7.55 who excelleth The opening of the seale to the most worthie ascribed Wherefore is Steven said to be filled with faith Neh. 7.2 Hanani to feare God aboue many Moses stiled Num. 13.3 the meekest man on earth 1. Chro. 11. Why are Davids worthies described by the greatnesse of their power Might Severall taxed for their weakenesse Feeblenesse Except groweth in goodnesse were greatly to be extolled Wherefore as Iohn of his friend 3. Iohn 12. I conclude of graces increase that it s well reported of all men and of the truth it selfe And for that cause to be desired increased And is it not also profitable What growth can equall this What increase like to this increase Shall we descend to particulars Doe we not by the augmentation thereof recover the great losse we had in Adam our father Are we not restored by it to that glorious image wherein at the first we were created Made more sutable to our head the Lord Iesus Will it not support vs with patience to vndergoe all kindes of crosses With ease to performe holy duties And the more grace here the greater glorie hereafter Who questions any of these things As the Apostle saith of the excellencie of the Iew Rom. 3.1.2 and benefit of Circumcision So may we of growth in grace that its profitable every manner of way The doctrine being prooved before it be applied certaine questions are to be propounded resolued Whether grace or not be of a growing nature We affirme it is in man not God Else why are we bade to grow Grace resembleth seed the which being sowen in the furrowes of mans soule springeth first into a blade next to an eare And in the end to a ripe corne Mat. 13.23 Doth not the parable of our Lord proue this Mar. 4.28 Grace in a Christian is not like a starre in the skie or stone in the center alwaies equal But as the Ceders of Lâ—banon growes greater and greater stronger and stronger But as a man who hath grace increaseth in it He may For there 's a vacuitie in the most sanctified vessell Grace like a bullet in a molde is not perfected in a moment the soule at the first infusion of it is not filled with it It riseth by degrees Ezek. 47 3 4. as the waters of the sanctuarie the which came first to the ancles then to the knees from thence to the loynes And so to a river that could not be passed over As in the vnion of soule and body man was filled with corruption So at their disiunction he comes to his highest pitch of sanctification It may further be demanded if each Christian doe Grow in grace For answer to this If mans life be considered in the bulke that is from the instant of his conversion vnto the time of his dissolution then doubtlesse he doth grow But if we breake it into parcels as weekes monthes yeeres he may not increase therein For as a tree he may haue his winter stand at a stay if not decline Againe he may be said to grow and not to grow at one and the same season by way of comparison because at all times his growth is not equall A tradesman this yeare gaines an hundred pounds to his stocke the next he adds but fiftie here is an increase though not proportionable to the former And this seemes to be the condition of the Church of Ephesus shee is commended for not fainting Rev 2.3.4 And in the next words checked for the losse of her first loue A Travaâ—ler runnes fast at the first mittigates his speed towardes the end of his iourney yet in that he is going still he may be said to proceed although his pace be not at all times equall So may we conclude of this supernaturall motion 4 Can the habit of grace be decreased This question in the former verse we haue affirmatiuely resolved onely an obiection by some experienced Christian here may be produced Now he beleeves anon he doubts this houre he hopes the next he feares One day he praies willingly fervently but another he is slow could in the action What Doth the habit of grace increase and decrease in these different kindes of motion For resolution we are to know that in the most regenerat person Gal. 5.17 there is as grace So corruption from which contrarie principles spring contrarie effects Also that both of these haue coadiutors by whom they are assisted in their operations The spirit is alwayes present to conserue mooue and stirre vp the grace of God in his children So is Sathan with the Masse of corruption But neither of both it may be at all times in equall degree whence when there is no diversitie of grace or corruptions Existence yet there may be varietie of the strength of their severall operations For when the power of the externall cause is remitted the actions of grace and corruption are also weakned and so the contrarie As with a ship it falleth out with a Christian sometimes He hath a faire fresh gale from the Spirit and at that time he makes a speedie passage a none the blast is slacked and then his course to the land of life is but slow We may not therefore conclude that the habit of grace in this diversitie of effects is dâ—caâ—ed No more then we will that the sailes of the barke be furreled because its course is somewhat weakened Againe varying the obiect alters graces operations For when a Christian casteth his eye on his strong corruptions his manie actuall transgressions his pronenesse to evill vnwillingnesse to good calleth to minde how the promises and vowes he hath not performâ—d the which at his conversion with a most setled resolution from him proceeded
thy gracious stocke never once dreame of enough nor of being rich for that is the high way to bancke to loose all Came not Christ to lay the hilles equall And to raise vp the vallies Luk 3.5 To make the crooked pathes streight And to fill the emptie vessells was not the Church in an error which said shee was incrâ—ast Had all things Rev. 3.17 Nay was shee not poore 1. Cor. 5.7 Naked Blinde Miserable And wanted all things O that we could purge out the old leaven abstaine from all actuall sinnes be conversant in the vse of all Gods holy ordinances 1 Thes 5.22 entertaine all the motions of his spirit And be poore in our owne apprehension Then would grace grow Luk. 1.53 the new-man flourish And the old receiue his deaths-wound be pierced thorow his sides and broken in peeces Then then should we be rare Saints on earth shining lights in this darke world Phil. 2.15 leade our liues in righteousnesse Luk. 1.75 holinesse And doe more than gracelesse men imagine can be done by any created nature Wherefore when thou feelest thy soule to mourne thy Spirit to faint thy heart melancholy dumpish all a mort then looke vp to heaven rouse thy selfe fall to meditation minde the daies of old And call vpon thy God Cry Lord helpe me quicken me a wake my soule So shalt thou like the dead child neese seuen times 2 King 4.34.35 c. waxe warme and returne to thy former life and strength This course if thou constantly obserue the power feeling comfort and all the effects of grace in a short time by little and little will strangely grow wonderfully thriue vntill thou come to that period full perfection the Lord hath appointed for thee and promised to thee in Christ Iesus Incentiues to grow in grace And as no meanes are to be omitted neglected So all motiues inducing to this growth must be minded remembred thus therefore expostulate with thy selfe What Doe not plants grow Animats thriue And are the covetous or ambitious ever satisfied Will not Citizens aime at the most honorable place Merchants venture for the choicest commodities And all tradesmen desire the greatest gaine Shall not a Christian then striue for perfection Let theirs yea Pauls resolution be emulated imitated of thee Phil. 3.11 who if possible would haue attained to the resurrection of the dead As some will to haue bin as perfect as the glorified persons in the day of iudgement In the estate of nature wast thou not insatiable Did sinne ever giue thee full satisfaction I tell thee that champions of Sathan must be champions of Christ Such as haue bin full of corruption Eph. 5.18 must be filled with the Spirit And the more we grow in grace will not corruption the lesse burden vs Shall we not with the more ease if not wholly cast it off beare it The bird which hath the most feathers mounteth highest conserues her bodie from many brusings So surely by this increase we should soare vp to heaven be freed from innumerable heart-breakings Why haue we inioyed so great meanes Seene so many good dayes But to grow strong And grace Why should not thy excellencies allure all men to affect thee Procure thee What Art thou not of a soule-curing qualitie care in this present world And onely to be found in the vessels of honour Where thou pitchest thy Tent like a Priâ—ce thou art attended with royall companions as Wisdome Faith Hope Loue and what not As in the absence and presence of the planets all elementarie bodies heate and coole lighten and darken reviue and dye So by thy contrarie motion doth every christian Thou art as the spring and oyle which turne all the wheeles of soule and body to run the pathes of Gods precepts Rev. 22.2 the vine which beareth all kindes of fruits Thy branches feed the tender Roes being cropped thy iuyce wil heale all diseases when once applied Where thou fallest like the showers in May the barren fields grow fruitfull bring foorth in great abundance And multiplie the seed of the word to an hundred fold Never was covetouse chuffe when his garners were full of good graine more glad the Grasier having his lands stockt with the choicest cattell more merrie Nor the Prodigall with his purse extended with pieces more iocunde than the man is whose heart is replenished with grace O grace glorie is thy vnseparable companion as shame the inevitable consequence of sinne Where thou openest the eye all the divine attributes of God as his omniscience omnipresence omnipotence yea his very iustice smile vpon it are delectable vnto it For if grace be with vs who or what can be against vs Grace in thy soule will assure thee of mercie in Christ And if thou be secured of that what needest thou to feare What can be terrible or dreadfull vnto thee The more Wiâ—e Iust Potent thy friend 〈◊〉 will it not the more comfort â—hee Reioyce thee And is not El-shaddai the Lord of earth and heaven thy fast friend Thy everlasting Father Let them then feare who haue cause For thou hast none Grow in grace and thou maist goe thorow the world as a man whose minde is in a deepe studie Like Ahimahaz who had speciall hast of a waightie businesse gaze on nothing heare nothing 1. Cor. 7.30 31. vse it all things in it as though thou vsedst them not Thy conversation shall be in heaven thy thoughts on him who is invisible Phil. 3.20 that never man saw and lived And having as Peter past the first and second watch thou shalt come to thy selfe in the presence of God Acts. 12.10.11 where is fulnesse of ioy Psal 16.11 al variety of pleasures at his right hand for evermore O thou who readest hearest these lines binde them to thee thinke often on them And till thou be stronâ— in Grace which is in Christ Iesuâ— let them never depart from theâ— Now if all that we haue said caâ— not allure thee I say no more vnto thee but wish when it is too late thy carelesse neglect of graces increase may not repent thee Whereas our Apostle exhorts to grow in grace vers 5.6 more is included then mentioned For what in the first chapter in particulars he named Gen. 3.2 and 4.20 here in the bulke are comprehended And as a tree is for trees chaâ—et for charets Psal 78.2 parable for parables So is Grace put for al the gifts of the spirit Mat. 13.35 Whence it will follow that Doct. 3 An increase of all graces is required of Gods children Name what grace you will and an augmentation is required vrged Rom. 1.17 1 Thes 4.10 Eph. 4.15 Are not the Romanes incited to grow in faith The Thessalonians in loue And the Ephesians in all things Paul in other places calls for it prayes for it Iude. 2. So doe his fellow-Apostles in their Epistles Reas 1 For is there
not an emptinesse a weakenesse in all What one grace is perfect at the first infusion Adams were at his creation not ours at our regeneration Iustified we are in one act absolute in a moment For the obiect matter of it is without vs imputed to vs but sanctified we be by degrees in that grace is inherent wrought in vs by way of infusion addition Things easily got are the lesse regarded We must therefore with much strugling finish the measure of our full and entire Sanctification Reas 2 And haue we not the remainders of the old-man left within vs The feeds of all the kinds of corruption in some degree vnmortified What then but increase of grace can expell these Will Sathan driue out Sathan How then should his kingdome endure It is the manie fingers of the new-man which must dispossesse these vncleane spirits For knowledge as light darkenesse dispelleth ignorance faith as winde chaffe blowes away infidelitie And loue as heat cold banisheth hatred yet these must be stronger than their contraries otherwise it will not cannot be Reas 3 Againe hath not a Christian severall sorts of temptations And will they not like Goliahs brags grow greater and greater What Or who shall quench these fierie darts Plucke the Devils weapons out of his hands And hurle him against the wall Any thing but faiths and hopes increase It is a truth that every particular grace of the Spirit hath an opposite adversarie within man and speciall temptation from without him and that a strong one Therefore a growth in all of them is necessarie to conquer and overcome their contrarie enemies Reas 4 In a word should we not grow at all we were but dwarfes and in some not every grace would breed deformitie Is it not a comely thing to see a plant spread all her branches equally A bodie thrive in each member proportionably What then Is this commendable in the outward and not the inward man Should but one finger stand at a stay would we not count it a blemish Shall we not blush then at the other And thus you see it stands with reason how Christians must grow in all graces they haue receiued Quest But may one grace grow and not another Ans I iudge so For the bent and inclination of mans minde may be more set to encrease one than another And if this be so why may he not Shall his intention be made frustrate Also occasions are often offered to exercise one more than another And shall not many acts cause a stronger habit Else how should tribulation bring foorth patience Rom. 5.3 Againe the frequent vse of one its probable by accident may hinder the augmentation of some other For severall charitable actions may occasion pride though not of their owne nature This chaffe will cleaue to the best graine now if pride grow will not humilitie for a season stand still And will it not appeare from the rules of Contraries Shall we not see the wicked grow in one corruption decay in another And that not onely of such as haue the most contrariety as Covetousnesse and Prodigalitie but of those that be Disparats as drunkennesse and gluttonie admitting of farre lesse dissention in nature Obict You will obiect that faith is a radicall Grace and infuseth her force into all which flow from her equally Grant it be so yet Sol. that hinders not Doth not the roote send her iuice and vigor into all the branches in like sort not withstanding externall causes as the rise of the Sunne fall of the dew and blast of the winde not all like striking all the boughs may occasion a disproportion Vse 1 May we not from this ground soundly lesson the Romanists And the troupe of bastard protestants among vs For let the growth of their graces be iudged by the effects and in reprouing of them shall we wrong them Do they not bragge of knowledge and defend ignorance Commend faith formed yet liue like infidels Extoll loue and cherish deadly hatred Exalt hope and leaue men in despaire Vow chastitie and mainetaine the stewes Haue they not candles to burne on their altars Gunne-powder to blow vp Parliament houses Will they not grant Pardons And imbrue their hands in the bloud of Innocents Blesse God with their tongues And curse his annointed in their hearts Great devotion the yshew in appearaÌ„ce when destruction and calamitie be in their practise Rom. 3.16 2 Tim. 3.13 What can I say of them But that they grow from evill to worse deceiuing and being deceiued For they can lye and tell truth with one very breath send forth sweet and bitter water from the selfe-same fountaine Grow in grace and encrease in corruption Cry out for vnitie and sow the seedes of enmity And that which surpasseth all A Iesuit can liue a Traytor dye a Catholike Martyr Therefore of the Serpents brood and spawne of the Divell be they And be there not some among vs in the same predicament Who goe in knowledge forward Yet like the Crabbe in practise mooue backward Boast of great faith when their good workes are little ones Haue peace in their heads But as Sampsons Foxes Iudg 15.4 certaine firebrands in their tailes Doe they not call for prayer cry downe preaching Are not these monsters Deformed Satyres Rather than compleate Christians Throughout sanctified persons 2. King 17. vlt. These resemble those who feared God yet served their Idols Vse 2 But beloued let it not be so with you but adde to your vertue 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. faith to your faith knowledge to your knowledge temperance to your temperance patience to your patience godlâ—nesse And to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse For if these things be in you and abound you shall neither be barren nor vnfruiâ—full Christians in the Church must not be like stones in the building alwayes in bulke equal neither grow as the bul-rush bigger and weaker but burnish as the Cedar waxe strong as the Oake Gods plants must achieue an augmentation Of each branch everie member a consolidation Thy lâ—ue must be hot thine hatred deadly thy desires eager and thy zeale burning Thy faith never failing thy hope longing thine anger fierce thy delights ravishing yea thy griefe deepe thy feare terrible and thou thy selfe prooue more than a conqueror Rom. 8.37 But aboue all graces grow in faith Th' Apostle Iude exhorts the people to edifie one another in their holy faith Iude. 20. For faith is the roote from the which all other branches spring the fountaine out of which flow all the rivers of holy actions and the sure foundation that supports the whole building of godlinesse Wherefore if faith decrease every gift of the Spirit will wither dye the waters of sanctification runne weakely be dryed vp And the goodly frame of our new erected Temple reele and totter Doubtlesse manie and great advantages hath a Christian by his faith For it raiseth the dead iustifieth the wicked purifieth the heart It comforteth the feeble