What Wesley Left Out

~12,774 words

may bring 
forth more fruit, 


| 


B91g Faire and fruitfull Para- | The fumme 
>) ble this is, ſpread forth | an diviſion 
G of the words. 
into many Branches, In | 
which, under the plea- | 
" fant ſhadowof a Yre_, | 
(upon occalion, they had but newly | | 
beene made reall partakers of his | 
B blood 


* 
— 2 nn nt A 
warmers —Crrremy  oo— Sor wo op our wo unto en ct per endo ror nee =” our yu eu or wo ee —_— — 


T he tryall of 


Is 


blood in the fruitof the Vine) Chri/? 
elegantly ſers forth himſclfe, and the 
eſtate of his Apoſtles, and in them of 
all vifibleProfeffors to the end ofthe 
world : Shewing alſo under that f1- 
militude, what his Father meant to 
doe with 1444s, now gone out to be- 
tray him : As with all other unfruit- 
full branches like unto him, even cut 


fre. But on the contrary, encoura- 
ging them , and all other fruitfull 


nue to abide in him, with promiſe, 
they ſhall brine forth yet more f; uit. 
The Parable hath 3. Parts. 
1. A7Yinchereis,of all the faireſt, 
verſe 1. 
2. A Huibandman, of all the care- 
fulleſt, | 
3. Theend of planting this Vine, 
which 1s #r-uitfulneſſe. 
Firſt, this Ye, as all Yines elſe, 
hath 1wo ſorts of branches. 
I. Such as, though greene, bring 
forth no true fruit, nought butleaves. 


2. Such as bring forth fruit, ver.2. 
The 


i —_ —_—_— 
hed "_- 


Aetna et. 


them off, and throw them into the| 


branches, that they ſhould ſtill conti- | | 


| cut off thoſe that are utrerly unfruit- 


a Chriſtians growth. | 


w | 


The Hwusbandman hath anſfwera- 
bly offices of two ſorts towards 
them both, elge,vSzirwy, which is a 


tare,to Lop and Ct off. Firſt, clean to 


full, which then are caſt eut, wither, 
and are gathered and caſt intothe firc. 


meant to deale with Ind. 


luxuriants and roo muchrunnings our 
of the fruitfull branches into ſprigs, 
which they are ſubjecto, 

Thirdly, his endin all is, that fuzz, 
and wore fruit might be brought 
forth, This is his end of planting this 
Vine, this is the end of purging theſe 
branches of it, which he being fru- 
ſtrated of, in thoſe other, is the cauſe 
why he takes them cleane away. 


— 


following Verſes,cither as meanes or 
motives unto fruitfulneſle. 


witty Paranomaſia, A mputare & Pu-| 


SOvVer. 2. 6, And thus now heel 


Bur 2.to Pwrge, and but lop off the 


To exhort them unto which,was | 
one maine end of Chriſts uſing this 
Parable, and untothis tends all inthe 


Firſt as means, 1. He aſſures them 


2. 


I. 


A 


- of 


SW - IS = —_— 


— _  — — — — 


The tryall of 


I ————— - - 
= W—— 


of their being in the ſtate of grace, 
verſe 3. Aſſurance is a means of fruit- 
fulneſle, 

2. He mentioneth Pureing by his 
ord, in the ſame verſe, which 1s a 
meanes he further uſeth. 

3. He inculcates intro them the 
ſenſe of their owne inability zo 4oe- 
any thing without him, ver.5. 

4. Therefore to abidein him, and 
ſuck from him,ver.5. 

5. And to let his Word abide in 
them, by which he ſhall alſo abide is 
them, and by which they may ſtill be 
purged. and ſo be fruirfull, 

The motives are, 1, Ifnot, they 
know their doome, to the fire with 
them, wer.,6, - 

2, It they doe, their prayers ſhall 
begranted,wver.7. 

3- Hereby his Father is glorifyed, 
Ver.S. 


4. They ſhall ſhew themſelves his 


Dilſciples,wer.s. 


5. They ſhall continue in his love, 
who loves them as dearly as his Fa- 


ther doth him, ver. 9,10. 
| And 


— _— —_——— 


| 8 Chriſtians growth. 


of all, 

The principall ſubje& T aime at in 
this Scripture, is this maine caſe of 
Conſcience, which uſeth to be the 
exerciſe and inquiſition of many 
good ſouls, How a Chriſtian may 
diſcerne his growrh, both in purging 


grace, and the fruits of it, 

Therefore what ever other ſpread- 
ing fruitfull obſervations grow upon 
this ſtock, (and this Vine affords ma- 
ny) we will but ſhortly, and as men 
ih haſte, view and take norice of, but 
as 1h our way to that other which 1 
principally intend, and onely ſo far 
ſtay upon the obſervation of them, 
as t:1e bare opening this fl militude 
here uſed,doth give ſap and vigour to 
them, 

And firſt, Chriſt, he # a Vine. To 
explainethis, Firſt, 4damindeed was 
a Vine, planted in Paradiſe, to beare 
all Mankind upon, but he turned a 
wild one, he proved not the true Viue. 
God planted him to allude to thart, 
| B 3 Ter. 


| And ſo you have the ſumme | 


out corruptions, and increaſe of 


I. Obſer. 
How Chrift 
is a Vine» 


—— — eo 


—_—— 
—_ 


| ny | The tryall of 


ll Jer. 2.21. LA noble Vine, 4 holy and 
| right ſeed, but he degenerated, and ſo 
| all engraffed on him, bring forth no- | 
| thing but grapes of Sodome, as Iſaiah 
| ſpeaks. / 
P Bur2.God the Father having ma- 
ny branches of choſen ones that 
grew by nature on this curſed ſtock 
of Adam. whom ver. 16. he had or- 
dained to bring forth fruit, to ſpring | ' 
| and ſpread forth in the carth in all 
| ages, and then to be tranſplanted un- 
tro heaven, the Paradiſe appointed for 
them,the earth being butthe nurſery | 
of them for a while, he did appoint | !' 
his owne Soxne to be anew root, into | | 
whom to tranſplant them,and ordai. 
ned him to be that bulke, and body, 
and chiefe branch they all ſhould 
grow out of, who is therefore called 
The root of David, Rev. 22, and that 
Righteous branch,Jer.22.6. 

Whom therefore 3. he planted as 
a root here onearth with us, and cloa- f 
thed wich a humane nature, a weaks 
and meane back and body, and an 
out-{ide, ſuch as ours is, that ſoboth 
MED. root | 


a” _ 
os Et”. A". 7 "Y - — — I page. > 
= ” > —y_ wv 


_ 


—— 


a Chriſtians growth. 


root and*branches might be of the 
ſame nature, andHomogeneall:which 
nature of ours in him, he likewiſe filled 
| with his Spirit (as with juice and ſap) 
without all meaſure, that ſo he might 
fructifie, and grow into many bran- 
ches, by communicating the ſame 
Spirit to them, 

And 4. inrelation to the multitude 
of branches he was tobeare, though 
he was of himſelfe the faiveſt Cedar 
thatever the earth bare, yet chuſeth 
to be a Yine rather, of all trees the 
loweſt, the weakeſt, and of the mea- 
neſt barke and outſide of any other, 
onely becauſe of all other it is the 
plentifulleſt of branches, and runnes 
outand ſpreads its bulke in branches, 
and thoſe, of all the branches elſe of 
any other trees, the fruitfulleſt, it is 
therefore called The fruitfull Vine_, 
Pſal.128.3. and forthat reaſon onely 
doth he fingle out this compariſon,as 
ſuting with his ſcope,ſhewing therein 
tis love ; that as he condeſcended 
to the loweſt condition for our ſalva- 
| tion, ſo to the meaneſt reſemblances 


[TR 


B4 for} 


> = ome 


— 7 o-— ——” WIWmIPIRue ewvro— SR TED. 


ill 2 | Tremjabof : 


ll | for our inſtruction, yet ſo%s withall 
i hetelis ps, thar no Vine, nor all the| 
Vines on carth, were worthy herein| | 
| to be compared, nor to be ſo much as 
reſemblances of him. 

\' fo. obſer. For he, and he alone is the true 
|! | TharChiſt | 73xze, that is the ſecond Obſerva-' 


;\| {is onely the 
| jf 4 t109], 

{|' } [True Vine.] : 

i Fer take thoſe choiceſt excellen- 


il cies in a Vine, for which the compa- 
in riſon here is made, as fuitſulneſſe ei- 
ther inboughes or fruit, and it is but 
a ſhadow of that which is in him. As 
God onely is[ [am that I a Jand all | 
{ things elſe have but the ſhadow of 
being : ſo Chriſt alone hath onely all 
itt theexcellencies in him in the true re- 
all manner of all things to which he 
1s compared, So in like manner he is 
ſaid rq be Breadindeed, lohn 6.55.and| | 


- - — S 


my  -” = 


| Ver, 32. The true bread from heaven, | | 
| Manna, and all other meat, and all \ 

lf that ſweetneſſe which is in meat, is| 
| and was but a ſhadow to that which} | 

ii} ne affords. He excels and exceeds all 

i things he is compared to, in what | 
they have , and they are but ſha- | 

| dowes 


———— _ — — _Y TS. EP. > — — | 
————. ._ - EN y 


Pe aC briſtians gropth. | | 


[dowes tro him, Hebrews 10. 1. | 
| Firſt therefore, never any Vine ſo 
fruitful, Alour fruit 6 i found in him,” 

! \' Hoſe14. If you abide in me, you ſhall 
bring forth wuch fruit, He hath j juice : 
'ro ſupply you with every grace, to 
| fil you with all the fruits of righteouſ- | 


nefſe, which if the branches wan, ic 
is for want of faith in themſelves, to 
[draw from him , not want of ſap i in 
him. 

| Secondly,this he is at all times, hath 
 beenin all ages, thus flouriſhing, this 
[root never withers, is never dry or: 
empty of ſap, it is never winter with 
Chriſt, Every branch, ſaith the ſe- 
cond verſe,every one that hath borne 
fruit in any age, bearcth all irs fruit in 
him:branches in him fear no drought, 
| 1er.17.8. 

Thirdly, for largeneſlſe of ſpread-. 
ing, no ſuch Vineas this, He (as the: 
| Plalmiſt ſayes, Pſal.80.11,12.) ſends 
out his boughes unto the ſes, and his 

branches to the rivers : all the earthis, 
 orhath beene, or ſhall be filled with. 


a 


; -— > 02 —— —_— "a —_ / 


them, 


a tai. OY YO OI 0 "IF 


: The tryall = | 


How the Fa- 
ther 15 the 


| Husbandman. 


"I 


| Obſer.z. 


| Is to perſwade us to rake Chriſt 
alone, and make him our All in all, 


becauſe him all excellencies are ſu- 
pereminently found, All creatures 
are not enough to ſerve for compart- 
ſons to ſer him forth, and when they 
docinpart, for ſome particular thing 
that is the excellenteſt in them, yet 
therein they are but ſhadowes, Heb,1o. 
1. He onely-is the truth, he is the 
true light, Tohn 1. The Baptiſt, 910- 


twilight, but a ſhadow : So he is the 
true bread,the true Vine, he hath really 
the ſweetneſſe, the comfort, the ex- 


| cellencies of them all. The like may 


be {aid of all thoſe relations he hath 
taken on him ; ſo he onely is a true 
| Father,and Hwsbaxd,&c.andthelove 
and ſweetneſle in all other Fathers 
and Husbands are-but a ſhadow to 
what 15 in him, 

As Chriſt is thus 4 / 7xe. ſo his Fa- 
ther is the Hmsbandman,and as ſtrange 
a Husbandman,as Chriſt a Vine. 

For firſt, he is the very root of the 
Vine it ſelfe, which no Husbandman 


IS 


ſes, and all lights elſe were but as} 


_e——_— 


a Chriſtians growth. 


11 


isto any Vine;therefore he that is the 
Vine cals theHusbandman hisFather, 
| My Father is the Husbandman, This 
Vine ſprings out of his boſome by e- 
rernall generation , for this is the de- 
rivation of our Off-ſpring, Chap. 14. 
20, 1 am in my Father, anayon inme. 
And Cbap.5.26. The Father He hath 
life (originally) in himſelfe, and gives 
it to the Son, and the Son tous, and 
thence ſpring living fruits, the fruits 
of righteouſneſle. 

2. Heis the ingraffer,and implan- 
ter of all the branches into this Vine. 


ous people, the branch of my planting, 
the workof my hands. Other Husband- 
.| men doe but expeR what branches 
their Vines will of themſelves bring 


| how many ſhall be the branches,and 
gives them unto, and ingraffs them 
into his Sonne, 


what ſtore of fruit theſe branches 


| gives increaſe, which other Husband- 
| | men 


———— 


Eſay 60.21, he calls them His righte- | 


forth, but God appoints who, and. 


3. He appoints what fruit, -— 
ſhall bring forth, and accordingly 


| 


he —— i ot I 


| 
| 
| 


_ 
ty 


The tryall of | 


pe iT EEG mus re mg y_aty 


da Ce TO OR TURNEPnT ans VEDIC RA war I" wg =ry 


| 


{ 


| care, and more then any other. The 


mencannot doe : Par! may plant, and 
A pollos may water , bat God onel 
gives the increaſe, 1 Cor.3.7. Though 


fulneſſe. 

4. He is the moſt diligent Hus- 
' bandman that ever was; for hee 
; knowes, and daily views, and takes 
notice of every branch , and of all 
their fruit : forſayes the Text, Every 
' branch that brings not forth fruit, he 
takes away,e7c. therefore knows who 


| beareth fruir, and who doth not. He 


| &xomes their perſons, who are his, and 


' who are not. 2 Tim. 2.19, not {0 


without 4 wedding garment, but hee 
ſpies him out : andas their perſons, ſo 
he knowes their works alſo, Rev.2.2, 
5. The moſt carcfull he is daily to 
purge his Vine : ſo ſayes the ſecond 
verſe. And of all poſſeſſions, ſaith 
Cato , Nalla poſſeſſio majorexs operam 
| requirit , Vineyards need as much | 


Corne when it is ſowne, comes up, 


1 
il 


Chriſt merited, yer the Father de- | . 
creed every mans meaſure of fruit- | 


much as exe man conld come in| 


and | 


the - _ —— 


| 


re re rerr ner ngrrnn nnt - - 4 
a Chriſtians, growth. 43 


CORES oe nm <a 


! 


| 


and growes alone, and ripeneth, and | 
comes ts perfeition, the Husbandman 


ſleeping and waking, he knowts not how, 


ſairh Chriſt: Bur Vines muſt be dreſt, | 
ſupported,ſhelrered, pruned, wel nigh ' 
every day. | 

And of all trees God hath moſt 
care of his Vines, and regards them 
morethenall the reſt in the world. 

Is to honour the Father in all the 
works tending to our ſalvation, as 
much as wee honour the Sonne : It 
Chriſt be the Vine, his Father means 
to be the Husbandman: And indeed,it 
may teach us to honour all the three 
Perſons in every work that is ſaving, ' 
for in all, they bear a diſtinct office; | 
the Father hath not onely a hand in 
EleRion, but alſo in SanRtificatien, 
concerning which this Parable was| - 
made, If Chriſt be the root that af- 
fords us ſap, whence all fruit buds, | 
the Father is the Husbandman that 
watercth the Vine,gives the increaſe, | 
purgeth the branches, and is the root | 
of that life which Chriſt affords to } 
us, and then the Spirit alſo comes in| 

to! 


Fle tt. 


| 


Bs Ads 


oo  - + > Eo wo 


Fw 1 The tryall of | "F? 


— 


to have a work and influence herein 
alſo; for heis the ſap, rhough not 

here mentioned, yet which is1mply- | 
ed, which lies hid in this Vine, and | ! 
appeares in all the fruits that arc 
brought forth, therefore called, Gal. 
5. Fruits of the Spirit. None of the 
| three Perſons will be lefrout in any 
relation, or in any work, that is for 
our ſalvation, That ever three ſo 
oreat perſons ſhould have a joynt care 
of our ſalvation, and ſandification, 
and we our ſelves negleR it! That| , 
they ſhould be ſocarefull, we ſoneg-| | 
ligentand unfruitfull ! Ifrhey doe all 
{ſo much for us, what ſhould not we 
endeavour to doe for our ſelves * | 
Vſe2 | Becareful of your words,thoughts, 
| _ | wayes, affetions, deſires, all which 
| - | arethe fruits of yourſoules ; for God | 
takes notice of all, he walks in this his 
Y | gardenevery day, and ſpies out how 
© many raw, unripe, indigeſted perfor. 
mances, as Prayers, 8c. hang on ſuch 
or ſuch a branch, what gumme of| 
pride, what leaves, what luxuriant 
ſprigs, what are rotten boughes, and | 

| ” whl 
wh ch 


—— 


I ———_———— 


I 
 — 


7 a Chriſtians growth. 


_ - ——— 


which are ſound, and goes up and 
downe with his pruning knife in his 
hand, and cuts and ſlaſhes where he 
ſees things amiſſe; he turnes up all 
your leaves, ſees what fruit is under, 
Thus he walks in his Garden. 

When the Church is in any di- 
ſtreſſe or miſery, goe to him that 1s 
the Husbandman, ſuch is the caſe of 
this his Vine, ſpread over the face of 
the earth. Complaine as they, P/al. 
80. 12, Why haft thou broke downe her 
hedges, ſo as all they which paſſe by 
doe pluck ber ? the boaye ont of the 
wood doth waſt it. Complaine to him 
that the hogs arein his Vineyard,and 
doe much havock and ſpoile therein, 
and tell him that he is the Husband- 
man, who ſhould take care for it, So 
they goe on to pray, Return, we be- 
ſeech thee O God of w_ 
from heaven,behold an 
and the Vineyard which t 
hath planted, ver. 14,15. 

We ſce this Vine hath branches of 
two ſorts, fraitfull and wnfruitfull, 
whichis the 4. thing to be obſerved. 


s, looke downe 
tihis Vipe, 
rieht hand 


vil 


And | 


Pſe 3. 


4. Obſ. 


Two ſorts of 


Branches in 
this VMne, 


a 


G_— 


—_— 


— 


tc. 


| 


- coouaces — 


T8 


d 


— 


NE ee i 0s gee A, te. a et 


om 
Ce re rome 


” IS. oY” oo FIRE CA. 14 


Thetrjallof | | 


, 


1 


i 


'Anſw.1. 
+ How the vn- 
: fruitfull are 


+ in Chriſt, 


e 
e 
L 

. 


14 43 Ao 2 he, EIT 235i 72 I IE > 99S, ned 7 
—— 


Lxeaefull-and - 


unfruitfull. 


And hercin our Saviour followeth | 


the like in Vines: And Writers of 
Vines obſerve ir,and accordingly di- 


| ſtinguiſh the branches of Vines inro | 


| Pampinarios , which bring forth ; 
naught bur leaves, and Frudtuarios, | 
which bring forth fruit. 
The unfruitfull they are ſuch as, 
make profeftion of being in Chriſtto 
themſelves and others, and receive | 
ſome greennefle from him, bur no: 
true fruit : For their profeſſion they | 
are branches, for their emprineſſe, un- 
fruitfull ones. T1 | 
| The onely queſtion 1s, how ſuch; 
[as prove wunfruitfull, are ſaid to be: 
| branches, and to be in Chriſt ? Every 
| branch in me, c. 

Many compariſons there are of : 
| Chriſt, as he ſtands in various relati- | 
ons to his Church : whereof ſome 
ſerveto expreſſe one thing, ſome ano- | 
ther. That of a Vine, here preſents | 
| him onely as he was to ſpread him- | 
ſelfe into a viſible Church on earth, in 
the profeſſion of him : And ſo conſi- 
| dered, ' 


— LO — ———— 


— 
——— 


the ſimilitude ; for experience ſhews | 


EP ow a —=_ 


EE ee end _ — — —— — ow 


| « Chriſtians growth. 


| 


dered he may have many branches 
that arc uffruitfull. That other of 
An head over all the family in heaven 
and earth, imports his relation onely 
to that inviſible company of his 
Church myſticall-, which together 
make up that generall Aſſembly, ſpo- 
ken of in Heb; t2. which are his fal- 
nefſe, Epheſ.1.ult. And agreeableto 
this meaning, in comparing himſclfe 
toaY:im, 1athis large and common 


feſſors, true and falſe,is that other cx-| 


gm alſo, whereby he ſets forth 


| his Fathers office, whe he calls him 


not «y7#iey,aVine-dreſſer,or a tiller 
of a Vineyard,in a ſtri& ſenſe,as Lok. 
13.7. but yi=zſ;,aS it wereatlarge, The 
Hmbanaman: Astherby denoting out, 
not ſimply 8&alone that peculiar care 
& relation that he hath to truc belee- 
vers onely, that are branches of this 
Vine,(choughincluding it)but withal 
that comon care and providence wet 
he bears toothers of his creatures; 8& 
this becauſe ſome oftheſe briches of 
thisvine,areto himburas othersoutof 


C the 


g cc 


relation of a root to both ſorts of Pro-t 


| 


* = —O— ——— 


A” T Thetryall of = 


%... 


the Church, and of no more recko- 
ning with him. The Fathers relation 
herein, anſwering to,andin a propor- 
tion running along that which Chriſt 
beares towards them : Thoſe that 
Chriſt is head unto, thoſe he 15a F4- 
ther unto : Thoſe whom Chriſtis but 
as a Vine unto, he is but yi«py«, an 
Husbandman unto , whoſe office is 
ſeenas well in cutting off ſuch bran- 
ches, as in pruning and drefling of 
thoſe other. 
— 42 Theſe unfruitfull ones are not 1n 
i Chriſts account , reckoned as true 
branches here : For inthe 5. verſe, he 
calls his Diſciples,there and then pre- 
ſent with him, (when now 1#das was 
gone forth afore, as appeares Chap. 
13. 30.) onely The branches : and 
therefore repeats itthere againe, 7 a” 
the Yine,with this addition, Te are the 
brauches, As he is the true Vine, ſo 
theſe onely the true branches ; the 
other he cals bur [5 xx3zeJas a branch, 
ver. 6.Heis caſt forth (as a) branch, 
ſo tearmed, to expreſſe ratherhis Fa- 
thers dealing with ſuch, thatas they 
| that | 


4 
| 


—_— ” _ A 


OI" AO OO TOO Inns "> , 
<< 


/ CET 


TY Chriſtians growth. | | h 


—_— * 


91 


A 


—_ qe p 
. 


'to make for it in the ſecond verſe; 


thatare dreflers ofa Vineyard, uſe to 
doe with ſuch branches, ſo my Fa- 
ther with them : butthey themſclves 
are but Tanquams, Duaſi palmites, As 
branches, not really and in truth ſuch. 

That expreſſion which ſeems moſt 


when he ſayes, Every branch in mes 
that beareth not fruit,thoſe words [in 
me] may as well, yea rather be under- 
ſtood to have reference to their not 
brinzing forth fruit in him, then to 
their be:»g properly branches(i»bim) 
ſo as the meaning is, they are bran- 
ches that bring not forth frait in me. 
Though they doe ſome good, yetir 
is not fruit,if ſo, [x0# i» me] though 
from me, and from my aſliſtance. 
And his meaning is not ſo much that 
they are branches in him,as that they 
bring not forth fruit in him. Which| 
indeed is.one of the charaReriſticall 
differences betweene true and un-| 
{ound branches, and one maine ſcope 
of the Parable, and this the Syriack 
Tranſlation makes for, reading it, 
Omnen palmitem qui in me non fers 


C 2 fratum, | 


———— 


20 


The tryall of | 


i — — 


| wnſriarfull. 


F[t, 


The ſeverall 
ſorts of bran- 
ches that prove 


PR, 


— 


fructum, Every branch which in me 


bringeth not forth frait, And there is 


'ning, that He never reckoned them 
at all rrue branches, becauſe at no 
time ever truely fruitful z for that 1s 
the difference God puts betweene 
theſe and thoſe other, that Thoſe that 
bring forth fruit, his Father purgeth 
that they may bring forth more {air He 
lets them not run ſo far out into fin, 
as to become altogether unfruitfull : 
But theſe He takes away. 

The Ule is to ſtir up all that pro- 
feſſethemſclves inChriſt,to examine 
whether they be true genuine bran- 
ches of this true Vine or no, Here in 


into a faire and pleaſant Vine in 
ſhew. as this earth affords : Burt if we 
Miniſters were able with this Z«/- 
bandman here, to turne up the leayes 
of formall profefion, and look with 
his eyes , we ſhould diſcerne that 
there are but a few true branches in- 
deed to be fonnd in flouriſhing con- 


gregations , as 1/4iah foretold there 


his reaſon that this ſhould be his mea- | 


this Kingdome, Chriſt isſpread forth | 


ſhould| 


« Pa Bi. 4 


« Cbriftians growth. 


| 


ſhould bein Iſrael, 7ſa. 17.5,6. Likes 
the gleaning grapes, two or three inthe 


top of the uppermoſt bough, fonre or five 
the ontmoſt fruitfull m—_ # 
Now for a generall help to dif- 
cerne whether you be true branches, 
confider,that union makes men bran- 
ches, and men are accounted bran- 
ches of Chrift in regard of fomeuni- 
on with him : and ſuch as their union 
is, ſuch alſo is their communion with 
him, and accordingly ſuch branches 
are they, and ſuch their fruit. 
I. Some(and indeed the moRt) are 
united to him but by the externall 
= of the outward ordinances , as 
their obligation made in Baptiſme, 
knit to him thereby, no otherwiſe 
then many graffs are that do not take 
or thrive in their ſtocks, onely ſtand 
there as bound about by a threed;and 


him, wholly externall: continuing to 
partake of the outward ordinances, 
but without any ſap or inward influ- 
ence derived without inward work 


| 


C3} "8 


oO ET 


accordingly is their communion with | 


of the Spirit or ſtirring of afeRion A 


_—_— 


4* ART OIL om." > - 


M— 
Ad 


| ;  Thetryab of | 


__— 


and anſwerable is their fruit, when no 

other but ſuch as you ſhall find grow 
in the waſte of the wilderneſſe among 
Heathens, which ingenuity and mo- 
deſty, and naturall honeſty and na- 
rurall conſcience brings forth : but 
not ſuch as an inward ſap from Chriſt 
uſcch to bring forth, Civill men are 
not true branches; for look on Chriſt 
the

Cut continues beyond the first 4,000 words shown here — about 8,774 more in the scan at the link above.

~2,982 words

may bring forth more 
fruit ; becauſe the more corruption is 


fruitfulneſſe. And the reaſon hereof 
is, becauſe ordinarily as a thing i tn 
| K 4 being, 


emptied, the more holineſſe will ap- 
| peare in your inward and outward 


HE ——. 


| 


— 


—— 


© ED Ee EEE er ee ere ee ery 


The Tryall of 


Mw. it 


bo —C———— 


| beive, lo it « in working, Leſaprinci- 


pia habent leſ operationes. Children, 
the weaker, the more falls they have 
in their ordinary walkings ; badies, 
the more ſickly, or the weaker and 
more unhealthy the gezns and conſtt- 
tution is, the more qualmes ; and as 
they recover ſtrength more & more, 
they find they our-grow ſuch weak- 
neſſes : and therefore ordinarily ac- 
cording to what activeneſſe a man 
finds of grace or fin inhim, accor-|| 
ding are the inward principles of 
cither more or leſſe: for the ſoule of 
man, as it is an active thing, ſo being 
left ro its ordinary courſe, it as ac- 
cording to the ſway, and bias, and in. 
clination of the habits that are in it, 
which are alſo active, as both grace 
and ſin are. As a bowle, when the 
force of the hand that threw it, begins 
to decay , it is ſwayed by the bias, 
and lead that is in it; and ſothe leſſe 
grace, the leſſe ordinarily it as, and 
the weaklierzand then alſo theoppo- 
fite corrupiion muſt needs beſo much 
the more ative : for the ſoule being 
active, | 


| 7 Wl briſtians growth. 


137 


active,abatcs not of its mettle, bur it 
will till ſhew it ſelfe one way or 0- 
ther. The fleſh will laſt againſt the 
ſpirit ſo much the ſtronglier, as the 
ſpirit is weaker, for they are contrary; 
yea and thus God judgeth of the 


| principles of grace in us, according as 


they atin us, he will judge of our 
mortification, by the fruits of it in 
our lives and hearts; the more of the 
fruits of ſinne grow on in us, thelefle 
mortified he will account us ; as hee 
| will judge of faith by the works, ſo 
of morrification by the fruits : and 
therefore it is obſervable, that hee 
bids us wortifie the deeds of the body, 
as well as the body of fin, Rem.8.13. 
for God will judge of the one by the 


other. Therefore the objeRs of mor- 


as well as the inward principle of 
corruption, becauſe the mortificati- 
on of the inward principle will be 
ſeene and appeare in the deeds. 

| Butit may be objected, that Grace 
' isaRed,or luſts doſtir,accordingly as 
| the Spirit of Chriſt, who is a volun- 


| tary 


tification are the deeds of the body, | 


Objedt, 


——_— 
FRY ——_—_ — 


hn ———_—_ me. 


132 | .: TheTryallof 

tary Agent, doth act Grace, or will 
leave aman, ſo that if he be pleaſed 
to ſtir that little grace in a weak Chri- 
ſtian, he ſhall aR it more, and if hee 
leavea ſtrong Chriſtian to himſelfe, 
he ſhall fall more. 

nſw, But to this it is anſwered, 

Firſt, that though the holy Ghoſt 
be a voluntary Agent, and blowes | 
when and where hepleaſeth, for his 
times of working, yet ordinarily he 
aeth grace in us, (take our whole 
courſe) according to the proportion 
> | of grace given, ſo as he that hath 
* more habituall grace, ſhall be more 
aſſiſted and enlivened, according to 
that rule,which in this caſe will hold, 
Habenti dabitur, cMat.25.29. Tohim 
that hath ſhall be given, if it beatrue 
talent : Hence therefore he that had 
five talents, gained more then hethat 
had but two; for he gained his five 
more to them; the other but two 
more to his former two: though he 
that had but one, is ſaid to have gai- 
{ned none, becauſe indeed it was not a 
true Talent, for he ſeemed but to have 

it, 


bh — 


— 


| L Chriſtians growth. | 139 


it, the Text ſayes. And the reaſon | 
hereof is, becauſe thoſe habits God 
hath infuſed, are his owne worke, 
| | | andordainedto be acted, and he de- 
| lights ſtill ro crowne his own works 
in us with more. And as he proporti- 
ons glory to works, ſo he promiſeth 
to aQ according to the principles of 
grace infuſed, "which elſe would be 
n vaine, they being ordained to that 
end: as the Apoſtle ſayes of gifts, that 
they are given to profit withall ; ſo 
are graces to work, and therefore or- 
dinarily God draws them out, where 
he hath beſtowed them, as he doth 
| | gifts alſo. And thus e contra it is for 
leaving a man to fin; the more cor- 
ruption a man hath, the more ordi- 
narily he lets it vent and diſcover it 
ſelfe,that ſo men that have many cor- 
ruptions in them, might know what 
is in their heart; and ſo when God 
| | doth mortifiethemin theni to thank | 
him the more, the grace of which 
elſe wonld be to them loſt, if God 
| ſhould mortifie their luſts in them, 
| | without their ſecing and ben 
tem, { 


Lean : - OI IESE 


eee 


_— —— — 


"a> || The Tryall of 


|them, and crying to him, 0/ miſera- 
| ble man that I am; and ordinarily ſec 
|them, men would not, unleflc left to 
| them. As in caſe of humbling a man, 
| thoughGod ſometimes doth humble 
| a man that hath leſſe fins, more then 
| one that hath greater,to ſhew that he 
can givelight to ſee more in a little, 
then others in much ; yet ordinarily 
{thoſe are moſt humbled that have 
been greateſt ſinners, as WMaraſſes 
humbled himfelfe greatly, and Mary 
HMazdalen loved much, and the Apo- 
| {tle thought himſelfe the greateſt of 
| ferners ; 10 itis in ating grace, or let- 
ting forth corruptions; it is accor- 
ding to their principles within, 
And ſecondly, that very aQting 
race doth increaſe habits, ſo as the 
increaſe ofhabits and inward mortifi- 
cation is proportioned according to 
the aQing of grace by the holy 
Ghoft ; for every abſtinence doth 
"mortific, as was ſaid,and every a of 
grace doth further, through the bleſ- 
fing of the Spirit, ſancifie and in- 
| creaſe the habit. Rom, 6. Tos have 


your | 


—_ 
—_ —— 


EY” 4 Chriſtians growth. | 


— 


- | God left him to deny Chriſt more 


your fruit in hokizeſſe. When they doe 
any duty, it makes the heart more 
inwardly holy, ſo as the one cannor 
be without the other; but the more 
a man doth abſtain, out of right prin- 
ciples, by the aſſiſtance of the Spirit, 
the more he grows, ſo as in the end 
all comes to one; he whoſe holineſſe 
isacted moſt , hath in the end moſt | 
habituall grace, and thereby often it 
comes to pafle, that he that i firſt, 
comes to be laſk, and he that a laſt, 


firſt. je 
Yetthere are two limitations tobe 
put in about this. 


Firſt, I grant, for ſome times of 
mens lives, that God doth a ſome: 
mensgraces more,who have yet lefſe 
orace,and leave thoſe to ſinners who 
have more grace, So he left Peter, 
who in all appearance had more 
grace then any of the twelve, yet 


falſly thenany of the other. _ | 
But then let the ends of God be 
| conſidered why he doth it, | 


| Secondly, in caſe of roo much 


con-! 


— _— +4 i 


— 


The Tryall of 


Dm —_—_ 


| confidence upon inherent grace, and 


the ſtrength of it z When we truſt to 
habituall grace received, then Chriſt, 
to ſhew that it is a new grace, to aſſiſt 
that grace, and ſo that it may be ac-. 
knowledged that he that gives one 
grace , 1s not bound to give ano- 
ther, may in this caſe leave one that 
hath indeed more grace to the pre- 
vailing of corruptions. Ir falls out 
ſometimes that when men are young 
Chriſtians,and new borne, God adds 
much aſſiſtance.and this for their en- 
couragement,andas you carry young 
children in your armes, and ſo they 
are kept from falls more then ſome 
more elderly that are let goe alone. 
Thus Hof. 1%» 3- God takes them by 
the armes when 4 child, ver.1.but then 
they acknowledge it not. But they are 
apt to think that that ſtrength and 
life they have,is'from themſelves,and 
ſoGod afterwards leaves them, when 
men more elderly. Thoſe Chriſtians 
who walk moſt ſenſibly of their own 
weakneſle,and obſerve God his kee- 
ping them from fin, and attribute this 
to 


——___—— 


| 


— — —_—_— 
a—_—y _ CE ne OI —— 


| a Chriſtians growth. 143 


tro him, ſuch God delights to help, 
though for the preſent they have leſle 
grace: and ſo thoſe Chriſtians that 
ſooner come to the knowledge of | 
that way of dependance upon Chriſt, 
ſome come to ſee it the firſt day, and | 
make uſe of it ; others not ſo clearly 
a long while; they ſhall be more afh- 
ſted then another. But to many thar 
=> {o ſoone is not ſo clearly ope- 
ned, 


Againe, thirdly, ſometimes God 

will magnifie this his aRing grace, as 
I may call it, more in one manthen; ' 
in another, ſeeing it is a grace. That 
one Apoſtle of the Gentiles did more 
thenall the Apoſtles, ſhall we infalli- 
bly ſay he had more inherent grace | 
then they all 2 bur he had more aſſi-! 
ſtance. As God ſometimes uſeth wea- | 
ker gifts to doe more then men of | 
greater,ſo men of weaker graces,and | 

leſle growth, to ſhame the other, As | 
there are diverſities of gifts,ſfo of ope- 
rations and exerciſe of thoſe gitts, 
I Cor.12.6, the Spirit dividing as he 
will, ver. 11. God caſts aſide one of 
| eminent | 


dt 1... A CE 


VOGUE my — IWInm— oC Ir ooo gr  rrren—_ _ 


— 


<C—_ —— - = —— 


144 


| 


The Tyalof | 


dt 


—_— 


| 


| 


| 


eminent gifts into a place or condit1- 

on wherein they are nor uſefull, and 

ſo hee may one of much habituall 
race. 


Fourthly, he as ofcen according | 


to atuall preparation ; the habituall 
preparation lies in habits,and is more 
remote ; as ſtrings may be good, yet 
out of tune, and ſo notplaid upon. 
Againe, fiftly, God may leave a 
Chriſtian of more grace and growth, 
to more ſtirring of corruptions, in 
caſe he means yet to bring him to a 
higher pitch ofhumiliation, and that 
by ſins. It is in this his dealing of lea- 
ving men to corruptions, and the v1- 
gorous conflidts with them, as it 151n 
his leaving his people ſometimes to 
aftlitions. God humbleth his, either 
by affliQions or by fins, and his man- 
ner in both is ſometimes alike ; you | 
ſhall ſee onewho hath attaincd to a 
great meaſure of grace already, and 
that by affliction, yet never out of the 


fire, but God ſtill following him with | 


aftiitions ; whereas one of leſſe 


growth and grace,who in that regard | 
hath 


———  —. — 
ht 


ne n= 


—_ a a. PA RA a. os a. as oa. a 7 


© 7” —_—_ mM, wy Of 


CT 


© = A, t-co un tu 


ee 


——— 


| a Chriſtians growth. | 145 


hath more need, ſhall have fewer af- 
fictions 1h his courſe : And whar is | 
thereaſon of this difference? Ir is not | 
that the growne Chriſtian hath ſim- 
ply more need of affliction then the | 
other, but becauſe God intends to 
bring him on yer to a further degree 
of grace, and perhaps hath neyer 
done with him. As refiners of ſugar, 
[taking ſugars out of the ſame cheſt, 
ſome thereof they melrbut once,and 
the other of it they melt and refine 
again and again; not thatthat, which 
they refine twice, hath more drofle in 
it, but: becauſe they would have it | | 
more refined, donble refined. And as | 
God deales thus in aftlictions, ſo alſo | 
in leaving his people to the ſtirring of 
corruptions, which of all afictions 1s 
the greateſt to humble a holy hearr. | 
And thus he doth ſometimes leave a 
grown Chriſtian to conflict with cor- | 
ruptions more then a weaker Chrl- | | 
ſtian z not that he hath more in him, | | 
but becauſe hee meanes to bring on 

that growne Chriſtian to a further | 


degree of humiliation, he is not hum - 
L bled 


_ 


"ET 


C—— 


| | de . | 


bled as he meanes to have him yer, 
And whereas God humbleth ſome 
men by afflitions , he humbleth o- 
thers by ſins; and aothing humbleth 
more then ſins, for croſſes doe bur 
humble by revealing ſin,as the cauſe, | 
and nothing will humble a growne 
Chriſtian more then to ſee ſuch 
ſhamefull foule corruptions ſtill ſtir- 
ring inhim, the greateſt aggravation 
of whichto him will be in this, that 
after ſo long a time, ſuch luſts ſhould 
be ſo lively in him, to have ſuch 
orofle faults in his exerciſes after he 
hath beene ſo long at ſchoole ſo for 
a growne Chriſtian to be diſguiſed 
with a corruption, when his haire is 
growne, to have it ſhaven off, as Da- 
vids meſſengers were aſhamed ofit 
| ſo how doth it ſhame him, and hum- 
ble him * Thus Hezekjah, though he' 
| was much humbled by afickneſle to 
| death, but becauſe he was not hum- 
bled enough, and ſo farre as God 
meant to bring him : therefore God 
let looſe Pride on him, and then hee 
further humbled bimſelfe and all Iſrael, 

as 


w_< A _—_ 


—m—m—— x, ca 4. ee 


LY — 
_— 4 _ —_ —— as —_—— 


| — 


| « Chriſtians growth. 245 if 


as it is 2 Chroy, 32.26, Upon ſome 
: men God ſhews his free grace in kee. LY 
ping them from fin; upon others he | 

> 'F 


ſpends it in pardoning them ; theſe 
|| [are buttwo ſeverall waycs he hath of 
31] | layingit out, and ſo ſometimes hee 


©] | ſhews his grace in keeping thoſe of 
h] | lefſe grace,and againeinletting thoſe 
*|[] | ofmore to ſtruggle with their laſts: |: 
N'] [and ſuch fickneſles are not to death, | | 
it] Jortoweaken them, bur for the glory 
of God, and their further growth ; 
h\] | for this will be the effe@t and conſe- 
el} [quent of ſuch ſtirrings in growne 
T'} | Chriſtians,that as theirfirs of corrup- 
d|] [rions ſtirring are great, ſo their hum- j 
5'] | blings will be greater : Grace being \ | 
- much in them, will ſhew it ſclfe that | 
'5]] | way ; great firsof ſinning have inter- 
mingled with them great exercilcs of 


6'| [repentings ; and the growth of their 

0 grace will ſhew it ſclfe in them, and | 
| [appeare in them, as in men that are i 
d chearfull naturally , bur ſometimes ' 
d oppreſſed with melancholy ; when | 
* thoſe preſſures are over, they are 
, moſt merry, their ſpirits break forth 

5| | L 2 | b<ing | | 


a Ot. 


pr 


- > O"m—— W— — Vp ———— 


[ "Io Tryall of 


— 


— 


” — — 


. {being at liberty,and ſhew themſelves 


as much on the contrary: io when 
grace gets above againe, AS it is 1n 
the body, when the. ſpirits are not 
weak, but onely are kept under by 
humours, when they doe get up, if 
they be ſtrong, they then ſhew their 
ſtrength in cauſing the body to grow 
the more: as in many young men, 
afcer a ſfickneſſe, where ſtrength of 
rature 15,and ſo thereby they become 
after often the better, and more live- 
ly ; but ifthe naturall ſpirits be weak, 
it 15 not ſo, 

A ſecond limitation is, that though 
one of lefſe growth in mortification 
may ſometimes by watchfulneſſe 
keep under hisluſts more,and athar 
little grace he hath, more then haply 
he actually doth, who hath yet radi- 
cally more grace: therefore ſayes 
the Apoſtle, Stir ap the gift that u in 
thee : To Timothy he ſpeaks it, and 


| he exhorts, Gal.5, even young Chri- 


ſt1ans 7s walk in the Spirit : that is, to 
have the Spirit kept above the fleſh, 
loasa man ſhall have great handover 


T his 


—OCw 


—_—_— 


. 


4 4 Chriſtians growth. 79 4 9 


his corruptions, that they break not 
forth : I ſay, that this exhortation 
| doth belong unto, and concernerh 

the youngeſt Chriftians, for he ſpeaks 
| |toall thathaveſ pirituall life begun in 
them,ver. 25. If we livein the Spirit, 
let ws, ſayes he, walk in the Spirit, and 
then we ſhall not fulfill the luſts of the 
fleſh,ver.16. A weak body, though | 
weak, if hee uſe his care, may keep 
himſelfe from diſtempers, as much 
as ſome man who is ſtrong, and 
grows carelefle. But yet though one 
of lefle grace be thus actually more 
watchfull, yet he may diſcerne the 
| | want of growth by this : 

Firft, that ſtill his luſts riſe oftner, 
and that with delight, and catch pre- 
ſently, although they be ſmothered 
as faſt as they catch; which is even as 
an heap of ſtraw in a roome where 
. | fire 1s, where ſparks fly about, ſtill 
\ [raking fire upon every occaſion, 
though he thar keeps it is carefull ſti] 
to put 1t out, 

And ſecondly, they ſhall find the j 
ſtrength of them in privative work- | if 
L 3 ings| 


| 


T be Tryall of be 


pn CS 


| 


ings againſt grace, and diſtrating 
and diſturbing them, deading their 
hearts in duties: And therefore when 
the Apoſtle had exhorted to walk in 


mark what follows, Tet, ſayes he, 
the fleſh will diſcover it ſelfe, in luſting 
azainft the ſpirit. Take what care you 
will;ſo as a man ſhall not be able to dec 


{what he woald, Gal.5. 16,17. and the 


more ſtrong it is, the more it wall 
ſhew it ſelfe ſtrong in diſturbing z ſo 
as Chriſtians not growne up that are 
very watchfull over their hearts, 
doe keep as it were but negative Sab- 
baths, like watchers and, keepers of 
good rule in great Churches, where 
there are many ſlcepers, they have ſo 
much to doe to watch thoſe boyes 
that ſleep, and are idle at Church, as 
they cannot attend the Sermon, For 
though by reaſon of warchfulneſſe, 
corruption, may be kept from diſco- 
vering it ſelfe in open unrulineſſe 
much, yet it can never by all the 
watchfulneſſe in 'the world bee 


| 


brought on to duties, but ſo much as 


b, 


the ſpirit, ſo asnot to fulfill the luſts, | 


—— 


” ul briſtians growth, 


is in the heart, will diſcover it ſelfe 
in oppoſition to them, or hypocriti- 
call jarring in them : although the 
Papiſts may be kept by a waking 
State from venting that malice of 
their hearts in rebellion, yer they can- 
not be brought to joyne with us in 
holy duties z no more will corrupti- 
on, unlefle in hypocrifie, and there- 
fore ſo much as is, doth ſtill diſcover 
ie ſelfe in them. 

A third caution to prevent miſ- 
judging;if a man will not be miſtaken 
in judging his growth comparatively 
with others, or with himſelfe, hee 
muſt conſider his occaſions and op. 
portunities to draw him our; for one, 
when he had more corruption, yet 
lefſe occaſions and provocations to 
fnne, may have corruption leſle 
ſtirring in him, then when hee is 
more growne up in grace, if his tem- 
ptations were then greater : The. 
ſametree ſtanding in the ſhade,where 
alſo the raine comes not to it, when 
tranſplanted, where both ſunne and 
raine fall upon it, may be more fruit. 

| L4 full 


— 


152 


The Tryall of 


——— 
ee EE nY 


full then formerly,now whenit hath 
far leffe ſap. David, when under af- 
fifions inthe wildernefſe, and.wan. 
ting opportunities, how ſtrict was he, 
and kept himſelte from his yatquitie ? 
but when he came to the delicacies of 
a Kingdome, ihough he.was grown 
up ſtill more and more in grace, yet 


- how did he fall £ The Snake which 


in the ſnow was ſtiffe and dead, when 
brought to the fire it began to ſtirre, 
and hifſe, and ſting. As in growth of 
grace, to aggravate the finne of not 
growing more, the proportion of 
means every one hath had is to be 
conſidered, ſo that for one who hath 
had much means to grow much, 1s 
lefſe, then one who hath leſle means: 
So inthe ſtirring or declining of fin, 
opporrunities and occaſions are to be 
confidered ; as ifa man be tranſplan- 
ted out of a ful condition into avemp- 
ty,it then many of his Iuſts do not ſtir 
ſo much as afore, no wonder. A man 
that was caſt into a ſweat by reaſon 
of multitude. of cloathes, it is no 
marvaile, if when cloathes are ta- 

ken 


| 


= 


PP ——_ 


| a Chriſtians growth. 


ken off, hee ſweat lefle. 

A fourth thing to beconfidered,to 
keep us from miſtakes herein,is, ghat 
he whoſe ſpirit is naturally active, his 
luſts, though weaker then another 
mans whole ſpirit is ſlower, may be 
| more quick and apt to break forth 
further then his, Petey was bold,and 
ſo ſpake often raſhly,and vented cor- 
ruption more, as when Chriſt called 
him Satan,not thathe had leflegrace, 
but a more active ſpirit; and yet hee 
might have more grace, and of cor- 
ruption leſſe ſtirred in him, onely a 
more forward naturall ſpirit. As an 
angry man, whoſe ſpirit is quick, 
may ſoone be ſtirred, and in the for- 
wardnefle of his ſpirit to ation, give 
a mana blow, when onegiven to ma- 
lice will ſcarce give you an ill word, 
whoſe luſts of revenge yet burne in- 
wardly more. Gunpowder will take 
and fall into a blaze ſooner then 
Lime, yet Lime hath more innate 
heat, and burns more within ; ſome 
have ſpeedicr vent. Thoſe two bre- 
thren, ſons of Thunder,as _ cals 
them," 


—_——_SR_— —_— I" 


p 


—— ——_— —  A_wWde 


The Tryalof 


54 


up ? They had quick and hot ſpirits, 
as Chriſt tels them, Te know not what 
ſdirit ye are of, Lukeg.55. 

Fiftly, if we would judge aright, 
what meaſure of true mortification is 
in us, we muſt not take into the rec- 
koning what reſtraining grace doth in 
us, but caſt that up in a ſumme by it 
ſelfe. For this you muſt know, that 
even in the regenerate, all their ab- 
ſtinence from {ins is not from meere 
mortification, but reſtraining grace 
continues evenafter regencration to 
contribute to it, and ſo make the 
ſumme ſeeme bigger. It was not 
meerely and onely mortification of 
the luſt of Anger that made Moſes 
ſo mecke; foratanother time, when 
he was left, what a chafe was he in, 
when hecalled them all Rebels, and 
(aid in an heat,that he muſt ferch wa- 
ter out of the rock for them 2 It was 
his temper and diſpofitrion of nature, 
helpt to make him ſo eminent inru- 
ling that paſſhon above any other, that 


gi is ſaid to be the meekeſt man on 


them, how ſoone was their choler 


— 


S 


—_ 


— x Ad _— a—_ 4m. 


earth. 


_ _ a. 


et —— __ — 


| 


| | 
4 


—  ———————— 


« Chriſtians growth. 


135 


earth. It was not ſimply, meerly 
mortification , that made that great 
Apoſtle ſo eminently chaſt ; butover 
and beſides what mortification helpt 
him in it,he had a peculiar gift, hee 
layes, 1 Cor.7.7. he ſpeaks of it as of 
2 gift, not agrace, ſuch as might be 
in Reprobates ; For, ſayes he there, 
Every owe hath his proper gift. Soit 
was not meere mortification that 
made Zuther never troubled with 
covetouſneſſe, but the freeneſſe and 
generouſneſle of his ſpiritthat helped 
him in it, : 

If theſe would have caſt up what 
grace and mortification they had at- 
tained to, they muſt have reckoned 
reſtraining grace by ir ſelfe, which 
though now fandiified, that is help- 
ing forward SanRification, and ma- 
king the abſtinence eafier, yet 1s not 
to be reckoned true Sandtification ; 
As Goldſmiths mingle in all the fil- 
ver they work ſome other metals to 
make it more malleable ; ſoare thoſe 
commongraces mingled withtrue in 
this life, where Sanctification is im- 


4 


 perfec, [. 


eo — 


| u56 | 


| 


| 


{and modeſty, and education did 1n 


150f it ſelfe ſomewhat pleaſant, a lit. 
tle ſugar will make it ſweeter to the 
taſte, then a great deale of ſugar will 
doe ſowre wine. Therefore let every 
 oneconſider,what naturall ingenuity, 


him before converſion ; and let him 
know, that now he hath true grace; 
theſe helphim ill, and ſtand him in 
ſtead as much as ever,though he hath 
a new principle of grace in him, 
| Grace imperfeRtakes not away ſuch 
| common gifts, but ſanfifyeth and 
uſeth them as the reaſonable ſoule 


and fuch ſins more eaſte, indeed all 
will be ſwallowed up in glory ; And 


yet ſceme

Cut continues beyond the first 4,000 words shown here — about -1,018 more in the scan at the link above.

~285 words

thing, and it is a grow- 
ing thingalſo ; and becauſe the more 


motion. 


_ Yea thirdly, as his f»lzeſſe is for | 


' 1 
our growth, ſo our growth makes vp 
is 


|- | were,if any of theſe members ſhould 
4 | not grow to that ſtature God hath 


—— 


| a Chriſtians growth. | 

his fulneſſe, even the falneſſe of Chriſt| 
myſticall, though Chriſt perſonall is 
full without us : therefoxe the ſtature 
that every Chriſtian grows up to, is 
called, Eph.4.13. The ſtature of the 
fulneſſe of Chriſt, In like ſpeech to 
this, Eph.1.23. itis ſaid, that 4# body 
i his fulneſſe : and Eph, 4. 13. the] 
growth of theſe members is ſaid tobe 
the fulneſſe of Chrift: ſothat as Chriſt 
ſhould be an head without a body, if | | 
{he had no members, and a lame bo. 
| dy, if he wanted any, fo he would be 
- | found a diſproportioned body, as it 


appointed them:So that as there will 
|. |be plenitudo partium, a fulnefle of 
| | parts, no member lacking ; ſo alſo 
 |plenituds graduum, no degree of 
growth. wanting in any part, that ſo 
| Chriſt who filleth all in all, may be fully 
fall, And 8s there would be a defor- 
mity if anyone ſhould not grow, (as| 
| | to have a withered member were a 
diſhonour tothe head)ſo to have any 
one grow 11 1mmenſum.,to too great a 
ſtature, 


, _ — ___ 
ns ; - Ira ——_—_— Ld 


CO A AA GA Ot I A Ss es —D—_— 


\dy: as all Chriſts members were 


1 Th Tyal f 


ſtature, would breed as great a defor- 
mity on the other fide: therefore he 
ad4s, that every member hath its mea- 
ſare. The hand grows according to 
the proportion of a hand, and ſo the 
reſt ; and ſoin the 13.ver. he hathir, 
that there is a meaſure of the ſtature of 
the fulneſſe of Chriſt, that every one 
attaines to

~168 words

therein is the 
true growth. | 

Indeed, growth in gifts, together 


with growth in Sandification run- | 


ning along with it, will increaſe our 
account, for God will crowne his 
own gifts in us, if as they come from 
Chriſt, they be uſed in him, and for 
him in our intentions, but otherwiſe 
they puffe up and hinder. They ſerve 
indeed to ſer out the fruit,and to help 
forward the exerciſe of graces ; they 
are good fruit diſhes, to ſet the fruit 
forth, but if grace grow not with 
them, we bring not forth much fruit, 
they are but bloſſomes, nor fruit. 
Agpaine, men are indeed to endea- 
vour to grow in theſe gifts of memo- 
ry, and inſtruRing others, and confe- 
rences, &c, As was ſaid to Timethy, 


I In” 


— 
LA 


”" 


— —_— —4 _ 


— —_ 


= Chriſtians growth, be | 


Let thy profiting appeare 10 all, 1 Tim. 
4. 15. and tothe Corinthians, Cover | 
the beſt gift , eſpecially whilſt you 
ate young ; yet wee are not fimply 
thereby to take an eſtimate of our 
growth. Though this ler mee with- 
all adde

~141 words

Ghoſt may uſe one of lefſe grace 
to doe more good then one of more; 


lights to honour thoſe of moſt fince- 
rity, with moſt ſucceſle; as in that 


| eminent Apoſtle,the grace of God was | 


more in him, and ſo wrought more 
with him in doing much good to 0- 


thers,x Cer.15.10, and then alſo God| 


will reward according to the frait of our 
doings as ler. 17. 10. when our de- 
fires areenlarged to doe much good, 


g00d we doe: therefore it 1s added 
therein that 7er.17. Whoſe heart thou 
knoweſt. When he ſces the hearr ſin- 
cerely enlarged to doe much good, 
then the fruit that is done is reckoned 


to himas his ; otherwiſe what ever it] - 


be he doth by us, he will reward bur 
according to our works, as concur- 
rent with his. So 1 Cor.3.8, the Apo- 
{tle upon this occafign intimates, that 


ſeeing! 


2, - i - AS  E. 2 F} x7” BY” 7 eo OO Pn ” 


| 


as 
bs 


a Chriſtians growth, 


ſecing it is God that gives the increaſe, 
he ſayes, that God will reward men ac- 
cording to their owne Iabours , not ſim- 
ply

~178 words

he is old, and yet grows, and brings 
forth before God more fruit, becauſe 
he-accepts the will forthe deed : So 
the Baptiſt was hindred in his later 
time in priſon, when yet he brought 
forth more fruit,and therefore he en- 
viednot Chriſt, that got all his cuſto- 


went forward, though nor by him- 
ſelfe : here was as much grace ex- 
preſſed,as in many Sermons. So Paxl, 
he was much of his time in priſon, 
yet then he ceaſed not to bring forth 
more fruit that ſhould tend to his ſal- 
vation, for Phil.1.15,16. when as he 
being in priſon, he heard others prea- 
ched, and that out of envie to him, 
others out of good will, 7 inpriſon re- 
.|Joycea, ſayes he, that Chriſt is prea- 


and 7 know,ſayes he,that this ſhall turn 
| tomy ſalvation, ver. x9, Theſe fruits 
wereas much,'and would bring him 
nas much glory as his preaching. 
In- 


————_— ——_.—————————— 


RE ——— em. 


ſame man may have larger opportu- | 


SR | 


mers, but rejoyced that the work] | 


chea, though I cannot doe it my ſelf: | | 


— em 
" 4 


hich as od m_« oo wb «a / 


OO 4 on as can ca Ja ftw=«@. tc an aaa wx O£&ld am od @a\$S. ew

~330 words

at firſt, but afterwards , 
though leſle, yet more truly. The ob- 
jets being then new, draw all after 
them, not onely Spirit, or that new 

O4 prin- 


i 


The Tryall of 

principle of grace is ſtirred then, bur 
fleſh alſo. The unregenerate part be- 
comes a Temporary beleever for atime, 
hath a work upon it per redundanti. 
| a7 , AS an unregenerate man hath 
who isa Temporary: which work on 
the unregenerate part doth decay, as 
in Temporaries it doth, and grows 
leſſe : not onely godly ſorrow 1s ftir- 
red to mourne for fin,bnt carnall ſor- 
row being awaked by Gods wrath, 
joynes alſo, and ſo makes the ſtream 
bigger, Infidelity ir ſelfe, like Simon 
Magus, tor a while beleeves. Whilſt 
the things of graceare a wonder to a 
man, ( as at farſt they are) preſumpti- 
on joynesand eckes out faith, a great 
party 72 the heart cleaves by flattery, 
as the phraſe is in Dan#eb; and for by- 
ends which after ſome progrefſe fall 
oft and faint in the yay, and thoſe 
luſts that over and above their true 
morrtification were further caſt into 
a ſwoune,beginagainto revive ; this 
was reſembledto us by the comming 
of the Children of Iſracl out of 
Egypt, when by thoſe plagues in 


Egypt, 


— 


Fd 


| a Chriſtians growth | 201 


Egypt,and Moſes his call, not onely 
the Iſraelites, but even many of the 
| {Egyptians were wrought upon, and 
began out of ſelf love to feare theLord, | 
Exod.9.20.and ſo « mixed multitude, 
itis ſaid, went out with the Iſraelites, 
Exo0d.20.38. 10 ſacrifice to the Lord; 
butere long, Numb. 11, 4. this mixt 
multitude began to murmur, and to 
fall off: Soat a mans firſt ſetting our, 
at his firſt converfcon,mixt carnall af. 
feftions, the unregenerate part, 
| through the newneſle of the objeQs, 

| [and impreſſion of Gods wrath, and 
heavenly raviſhments, are wrought 
upon, and goe out with the new Iſrael 
to ſacrifice, but aftera while theſe fall 
away, and then the number is leſſe ; 
. but the true Iſraelites are more

~153 words

as if he had not knowne or 
minded them afore: And ſometimes 


the cmprineſſe of his owne righte- 
ouſneſſe, ſometimes about that ful- 


about the ſpirituall ftritneſſe hee 


D _they, 


—C__ 


= ——— —— CC . poems —___ —_— 


—— — 
nm 


| 210 |; * The Tryall of 
they have new ; hencethat which is| 
| indeed but growth in grace in them, 
they account but their firſt converſ1. 
| | on ; though every ſuch eminent ad- 
dition be'to be accounted as -a con- 
verſion, as Chriſt to his Diſciples, 

Except ye be converted; yet they were 
| converted afore, Now thepurpole I 
| | ſpeakthis for,is asan help to diſcernc 


— WS tC - 


n ——1<t 


| our growth ; for when God thus is 
| leading us with farther light and atf- 
teRion to a larger apprehenſion of 
| ſpirituall things, or to the trying new 
BY graces, ſo long we grow.' Therefore| 
| | Cart. 7.81t. the Church is ſaid 70 lay 
| ap for her Beloved fraits new and old: 
| | Roms, 5. from patience a man is led to 
| experience, from experience to hope. 
| As wicked men are led on from one 
finne to another, and'{o' grow worſe 
| and worſe; ſo godly men from one 
| ]graceto another, and then they en- 
| | creaſe

~255 words

in above 
all. The more Euvangelicall our 
works are, and the more to God.(for 
that is the end of the Goſpel, to ho- 
nour Chriſt and free grace) the more 
we grow. We areof the Circumciſion, 
| {ayes the Apoſtle, who rejoyce in the 
Lord Teſus, worſhip God in the Spirit, 
and have no confidence in the fleſh, 
Phil.a. - E [ 
| Fiftly,the more welearne to bring | 
Fa forth fr4its in ſeaſon, the more fruir | 
we may be ſaid to bring forth: For | 
the ſeaſonable performance of them 
makes them more. All fruits in their 
ſeaſon, how acceptable are they | 
and out of ſeaſon,they are not. In the 
| y firſt |. 


—_— — 


7 


— Is. 


ments 


| firſt Pſalme a gghteous manis ſaid to 
bring forth hu fruit in dud ſeaſon : 
Words in ſeaſon are as apples of gold 
and piltures of ſilver, In Ezek. gr. 


o much 
to reprove, as to reprove in ſeaſon, 
|to have our ſenſes exerciſed to know 
fit ſeaſons, and to conſider one another 
70 provoke 16 love, as it is Heby. 10, 
Young Chriſtians doe more , but 
more ont of ſeaſon, and the devill 
| abuſeth them, putting them upon 
duties when they ſhould beat their 
refreſhings, at their callings ; he de- 
cciving them with this, that holy due | 
ties in themſelves as alone f\qnply 
compared,are better then to doe any 
thing elſe ; when as the ſeaſon adds 
the goodneſle to our ations : Thus 
| to recreate thy ſelfe at ſome ſeaſons: 
is better then to be a praying. A 


aright, Pſal. 50. and order gives 2 
| —O A . 
reQitude, a goodnefle to things, 
Sixtly, when we grow more con- 
ſtant

~203 words

created as 
well as the whole, which ſhews the 
difference betweene naturall growth 
|and-this, In naturall growth, there 
needs not a new creation, but an or- 
dinary concurrence; bur it is not ſo 
in this.,, that God that begun the 
work,by the ſame power perfedts it : 
And therefore Epheſ.1.19. he prayes 
that the beleeving Epheſians might 
ſee that power that continued to 
worke in them, to be no lefſe then 
that which raiſed up Chriſt ; for 
though naturall life may with a natu- 
rall concurrence increaſe it ſelfe, be- 
cauſe the terminus 4 quo, the terme 
from whence it ſprings, is but from a 


lefſedegree of life to a greater :. bur | 


this is from a greater degree of death 
to a further degree of life : And 
therefore Phil, 3. the Apoſtle calls 
growing 11 grace,a going on 70 attary 

to the reſurrtdion from the dead : And 
| there- 


A. Al. 


* 
ww $57 IA tt RY 


2.4 A 


a Chriſtians growth. 


therefore the ſame power that raiſed 
{ up Chriſt, muſt goc along to work it. 
Hence alſo every new degree of 
.2racc is Called anew converſion ; ex- 
[cept ye beconverted, becauſe the ſame 
power goes ſtill to it. And therefore 
the Apoſtle aſcribes his abounding 
more unto the grace of God with him, 
x Cor. 15. 10, and elſewhere it 1s, 
God that