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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	election_n	grace_n	work_n	3,842	5	7.0407	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B12200	The vvonderfull mysterie of spirituall growth Describing the necessitie, nature, manner, measure, and markes thereof. As also, laying downe necessarie rules for the wise discerning of the same. And resoluing many speciall cases of conscience incident hereunto, tending to the comfort of distressed spirits, and so to the attaining of perfect holinesse. Diuided into two bookes.	Cooper, Thomas, fl. 1626.	1622 (1622)	STC 5709; ESTC S114304	141,549	449

being perfect and intire in him wanting nothing and all this of free guift he that hath begunne the worke leading it forward by his mightie power vnto saluation that hee may haue the onely glory thereof Philippians 2.12.13 1. Pet. 1.5 And so leading it forward that still both for the Manner and Measure thereof it is free and independent in regard of vs. 3 I make manifest the manner of the working of Christ in vs by his spirit whereby wee are enabled to grow vp in him in soundnesse to perfection Namely that by the vertue of Christ not some one or Jew faculties of the soule are enclined and renued by him but that euery part and facultie of the soule yea each member of the body receiue life and nourishment from the head as to it gratious enabling to the worke of intire obedience so to it further growing and encrease vnto perfection therein Ephes 4.16 And to the acceptance of both persons and seruice in the merite of Christ 4 I proceed to discouer the manner of this spirituall growth namely that as it is by continuall supply of the meanes both inward the blessed Spirit discouering dayly our failings and leading to the outward meanes for recouery and enabling in the vse thereof both for recouery out of fayling and supply of such graces as may further perfection As also outward the word to build vs vp in knowledg and faith and so in obedience The sacrament to minister spirituall nourishment and such like so herein also setting downe a liuely triall of our Growth by the vse of these means that it is both according to them they must be the Rule and Tuchstone therof as also Answerable to the Meanes in proportion that where more meanes there a greater measure of Growth to be expected where lesse there if our Growth be lesse we may haue some comfort that we are not altogerher barren how soeuer if this want of meanes be not from our selues in making scarcitie where there is plentie but from the diuine dispensation in chastising his people with scarcitie for the abuse of plenty here we may comfort our selues either that what is affoorded shall be sufficient because God will require no more then he giues or what is wanting in the outward means our God will supply by his Annointing to refresh vs inwardly if we haue not bin despisers of the publick and ordinary meanes 1. Ioh. 2.19 5. Lastly the finall cause and ends of this spirituall growth are propounded and auerred tending to the perfiting of the worke of grace in vs and so preparing of vs to the life of glory which are in respect of vs. 1. Our perseuerance 2. Our perfection hereupon 3. Our glorification 2. In respect of God 1. The accomplishment of his promises 2. That he might haue the glory of the perfecting of his worke 3. That our perfection may be wholy employed in setting forth his great name and glory THE CONTENTS of the third chapter OF the causes meanes and helps of spirituall growth 1 Causes both internall and principall 1 The power of Christ 2 The inhabitation of the spirit 2 Instrumentall generall 3 The renued heart Specially therein 1 Sound knowledge and that 1 Of the power of corruption 2 Of the measure of grace attained 2 Spirituall experience and that 1 Of the deceitfulnesse of the heart in misleading either way 2 Of the sleights of Satan 3 Of the power of God in preuenting and disappointing these or turning them to good 2 Outward meanes and causes And these instrumentall Namely 1 Constant vse of Gods ordinances As first Hearing the word preached 2 Receiuing the Sacrament 3 Prayer 4 Meditation 5 Conference Accessarie as 1 Afflictions 2 Examples of the Saints Helpes hereto are 1 Soundnesse of iudgement and wherin 2 Sinceritie and how 3 Dayly renued repentance and why 4 Propounding the example of Christ and why 5 Looking to the reward in heauen 6 Dayly thankefulnesse and how 7 Labouring dayly the conuersion of others 8 Constant watch ouer our hearts and how 9 Dayly encrease in sauing knowledge and how 10 Contentednesse in our estates 11 Sobrietie in the vse of Christian libertie 12 Dayly encrease of faith and how 13 Putting on dayly the spirituall armour 14 Patience 15 Continuall prayer 16 Conscience of the Sabaoth 17 Daily constant holinesse 18 Daily preparation to afflictions and how 19 To nourish tendernesse of conscience in all things and how 20 To haue the feare of God alwaies before vs. 21 To bee continually iealous of our selues 22 To nourish spirituall pouertie and hunger after the best graces 23 Daily preparation to our death and how 24 Daily resigning of our selues into the hands of God 25 Spirituall wisedome why and how 26 Maintaining spirituall ioy why and how CHAP. III. Of the causes of spirituall growth IT appeareth hitherto that we must grow in grace as also what spirituall growth is Now we are further to consider the causes of this growth These are 1. Internall that is within vs. And these are meritorious and effectuall of themselues Such are 1. The power of Christ dwelling in vs. 1. Col. 19. which is both the meritorious cause of our growth as whereby we obtaine grace from God to enable vs to grow as also the principall efficient cause thereof As by it vertue subduing mightily in vs the remaindures of corruption and body of sinne and supplying such graces as may further our spirituall growth as also enabling vs in the vse and improuement of them to that end especially presenting them in the perfection of his merit that aboue their worth they may be acceptable vnto God his Father and so by vertue of our vnion with him dayly leading vs forward to perfection A second effectuall cause of this growth is the holy Ghost which being giuen vnto vs by Christ dwelling in vs doth work effectually in vs to a dayly discouery and subduing of corruption by reprouing for sinne yea for righteousnes conuincing all naturall abilitie and remaindure of goodnesse in vs all conceited righteousnes in the law or any thing saue in Christ yea stil conuincing the imperfection of all inherent righteousnes attained so still interessing in Christ and so by it power encreasing grace The inward instrumentall meanes it The renued heart which being now quickned and actuated by the spirit becomes ministerially a fellow worker therewith in all such workes as may any way further our spirituall Growth 1. Cor. 3. More particularly these Graces in the heart are speciall instrumentall causes of our Growth in Grace 1 A sauing knowledge and that 1. Of our particular estates and this twofold 1. Both of the power of corruption that remaines and cleaues vnto vs also of that truth measure of grace whereto we haue attained For as the true discerning of corruption and the power and measure thereof in vs is a meanes dayly to worke in vs a denyal of our selues and renouncing all abilitie in vs as of our selues to

furnished with meanes dayly to thriue in grace and by our care on this day may be the better enabled to serue him sincerely and constantly in all other occasions 17 And though the Lord hath specially separated this day for his more publicke and entire worship yet he hath redeemed vs that we might serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Luk. 2.49 Therefore that we may grow in grace make we conscience of constant holinesse dayly by dayly examining our hearts renuing our repentance encreasing our knowledge our faith by meditation in the word prayer relying on Gods blessings in our ciuill callings and watching therein against couetousnesse discontent worldly wisedome earthly mindednesse deceit and such like least our neglecting or slubbering of dayly duties greeue the spirit procure a remisnesse and formalitie therein and so in sted of hauing more that which we haue may be taken from vs at least for the present vse and comfort thereof 18 Seeing securitie is a maine hinderance to our Spirituall growth and it is the mercie of our God to exercise vs daily with some afflictions in diuers kinds to preuent the same therefore that we may daily grow in grace let vs prepare our soules daily to afflictions submitting to whatsoeuer our gratious Father shall lay vpon vs making them glasses to see our daily failing and purgations to emptie vs of them vsing them as spurres to prouoke vs daily to perfection by weaning from the loue of the world and giuing daily experience of the power of Christ in vs. 19 Whereas it much furthers our growth in grace to haue a good conscience in whatsoeuer we doe therefore labour we to maintaine tendernesse of conscience in all things as well to conuince vs of secret euils and so to preuent grosse offences as also to humble vs in wel-doing and cast vs vpon Christ as to prepare vs more conscionably to all holy duties to cary vs more vprightly and constantly through out the same and still to prouoke vs out of the sense of our daily failings to renue our strength in Christ so in him to grow vp to perfection 20 To this end also haue we alwaies the feare of God before our eies to preuent hypocrisie and securitie and 2 Cor. 7.1 21 Nourish we daily an holy feare and iealousie ouer our selues yea Pro. 28.13 when we doe our best and feele greatest comforts least Spirituall pride beget securitie and confidence in the flesh and so produce luke-warmnesse and falling into grosse euills Reuelations 3.17 22 Aboue all take we heede of contenting our selues with any measure of holinesse already attained but that we may grow in grace grow we in humilitie and daily deniall of our selues forgetting what is behinde that we may hasten to that which is before euen for the price of our high calling in Christ Iesus Phil. 3.13 23. And seeing our liues are vncertaine and our master may come in an houre we know not of therefore that we may grow in grace prepare we dayly for our death and so for indgement adding dayly to our Christian stature and abounding in the worke of the Lord that so we may be found in peace at our masters comming 1. Cor. 15.58 24 Resigne our selues dayly into the hands of our gracious father committing our selues in well doing continually vnto his faithful keeping that so he may quiet our hearts in what we haue receiued by enabling vs to a conscionable vse thereof and so furnish vs with whatsoeuer may yet further our perfection vnto the day of Christ 25 Seeing our want of spirituall wisdome is a maine hinderance to our growth in grace as casting vs oft-times into many vnnecessary troubles and so to much distraction and horror thereby and casting vs vpon many doubtfull and intricate occasions both of matters of knowledge concerning things vaine and curious as also vpon many a rash and vndiscreete practice to wound the conscience and hinder our peace and so our proceeding in grace therefore labour we to attaine the Spirituall wisedome First by cleauing fast to the Word And secondly experience of Gods former dealings Thirdly by comparing Spirituall things with Spirituall things Fourthly and looking as well to the end as the beginning thereof that so wee may still make choice of the most familiar and excellent decline doubtfull and vnnecessary occasions submit our spirits to the spirits of the wisest and so maintaine loue which is the bond of perfection Col. 3.15 26 Lastly seeing though fulnesse of ioy be expected in another life yet heere also the Saints may enioy some comfortable measure thereof Psal 4.4 5. in all occasions and the more they partake thereof the more they are encouraged in holy duties and enabled to go forward therein Therefore labour we to maintaine this Spirituall ioy First by entertaining the motions of the Spirit And secondly the occasions of wel-doing Thirdly by walking constantly with our God And fourthly comforting others Fiftly by daily repentance for sinne And sixtly renouncing our best righteousnesse Seuenthly daily cleering the euidences of our election That so we may daily grow in grace and follow after perfection And thus of the causes and helpes to grow in grace It remaineth yet to consider the manner of our growth in grace CHAP. 4. Of the manner of our Spirituall growth with diuers comfortable obseruations therein and vses thereof HItherto of the Necessitie Nature and Causes of this Spirituall growth It now followeth that we discouer the Manner thereof as beeing a part of the reuealing of this great mysterie and very necessary for the triall of the truth thereof and also to resist such tentations as doe oppose the same or hinder the increase thereof To this end it shall be necessarie to enter into the Sanctuarie of the Lord and thereinto obserue such Mysteries wherein this wonderfull Mysterie is wisely infolded to stumble carnall wisedome and yet gratiously vnfolded to satisfie the humble spirit The first Mysterie wherein this sacred Truth is infolded is the New Creature 2. Cor. 5.17 The Spirit vouchsafing to resemble our Spirituall renuing in the second Adam by our Naturall beginning in the Old 1. Both because there is very great and neere similitude betweene them and also 2. That this of Nature being familiar to each capacitie the other of grace may be better discerned thereby and yet 3. Might stumble heere in carnall wisedome either in stretching the similitude to square euery way to the establishing of Natures abilitie and helpe to grace or to confound carnall wisedome in the discerning thereof if it looke with no other spectacles then those of Nature Labour we then in the feare of God to search the secrets of this Mysterie by the power of the Spirit that so we may hereby discerne the Manner of this Spirituall growth To this end consider we first that as the New birth in regard of the better part is immediatly created a New of God and infused into the body

so is it with the grace of God which though it be perfect seede yet being cast into the fallow and plowed ground of our hearts in regard of the vnaptnesse of the ground and season it yeelds not fruit presently but in due season according to the prouidence and blessing of God fittest for his glorie and the good of the ground 2. As the seede is not discerned in growing at the first and yet it growes so neither can the worke of grace be discerned in the beginning no not in the infancie thereof and weaker proceedings of the same 3. As the seede in it growing vp is rotted first in the ground Iohn 12. and dead yea appearing past hope so is it with the worke of grace so farre from being discerned sometimes to grow as that rather contrarily to sense it dieth the old Man must be daily mortified that the new Man may encrease yea the new Man must be abased in the sense of it owne attained measure that still it may grow vp in Christ to attaine perfection And that by reason of the mixture of the Old man with the New challenging the imperfection and staine of any goodnesse attained and the preuailing of the flesh sometimes in some degrees ouer the Spirit drawing vs contrarie to our maine purposes to many euils and yet furthering hereby our growth in nourishing more necessarie graces of humilitie and deniall of our selues of Faith in Christ contrarie to sense of spirituall pouertie and hungring after Christ of holy thirsting after the comforts of the life to come And this affordeth also diuers gratious consequences for our better discerning of the Manner of our growth As first that we may not expect perfection at the first nay we must not be discouraged though as the seede dies and rots before it come vp and yeeld fruit so it is with vs euen after the seede of Grace is sowen in vs for this doth tend to the more glorious triall of our faith and patience and to the greater aduancement of the power of God in sustaining vs in these kindes of desertions of his wisedome and mercy in turning them about to the best vnto vs. 2. Though wee discerne not the worke of grace at the first no not for some time yet is the seede sowen and will come vp at length and he that beleeueth maketh not haste Isay 8. Thirdly and lastly seeing the seede comes vp by contraries by dying c. therefore as we must not be discouraged in those particular blasts and oppositions those desertions and contradictions which doe occurre herein so neither for the generall must we liue by sense in any measure when we are at the hight as we thinke to rest herein but still we must liue by Faith denying our selues and relying only vpon Christ in the meanes that so by him wee may be lead along to perfection Thirdly A third Mysterie shadowing out the New birth is that it is resembled vnto Light Prou. 4.18 19. Heb. 10.34 1. Which as it receiueth it power from the Bodie of the Sonne and this from the ordinance of God so our conuersion is a sparke of the light of Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse and this from the good pleasure and Fountaine of Gods eternall loue And therefore Howsoeuer it may seeme to be as the light subiect to many Ecclypses and vicissitudes yet in Gods purpose and practise of his grace it is constant and eternall 2. As the light shineth more and more vnto the perfect day so is it in our Conuersion At the first our light is dimme and weake but still in growing The longer we liue in the Schoole of Christ the more we shine in holinesse the neerer wee attaine to the life of glory And therefore as There is a continuall worke of proceeding though not alwaies discernable as the Sunne shines alwaies though not apparant in our Horizon Nay though the light be not discernable alwaies in that measure yet as the with-drawing of the light and heat of the Sunne is very necessary and vsefull least it extreame heat alwaies continuing should burne the earth so the absence of this sense and feeling of the worke proues very profitable to humble and trie our faith to make it expresse it selfe in other more necessarie fruits of Patience Repentance Compassion c. Yea as the Sunne when it sets in one Circumference yet it shines in another so that when it is night with vs it is day with others and yet we and they make but one Vniuerse so is it in the worke of the Spirit Though it bee with-drawne from one part yet it shines in another it fayling in some graces is the meanes to expresse it in others that are more necessarie And therefore though it shine not in one Climate yet it shines in another and so while it is absent from one part it supplieth else-where and so by this dispensation by times and degrees illustrateth the whole and so though we daily grow yet it is not without some interruptions and intermissions to our sense for the present by reason of such tentations which ouercast trouble the same of such open sinnes as to grieue the spirit and so suspend it working in somethings and degrees for the present or that we grow carelesse and formall in holy duties and so for the present want the comfort of them yet as the light shineth more and more vntill the perfect day so is it with the New birth 4. The worke of the Spirit is compared vnto Winde Iohn 3.8 Now as the winde bloweth where it listeth and though wee heare the sound thereof yet we cannot discerne whence it commeth and whither it goeth so is it in the worke of the Spirit It is alwaies free in working and therefore neither can any goodnesse in vs moue the same to worke otherwise then it pleaseth neither can the euill that is in vs hinder the same from working otherwise then that still may stand with the libertie and purpose thereof for our maine good howsoeuer in some subordinate graces it may seeme to faile and cease it working And hence arise many comfortable conclusions both to discerne the manner of our growth and also to comfort vs therein As first in that no goodnesse in vs can moue it to worke further then it pleaseth because it motion is the cause of our goodnesse and disposeth the same as it pleaseth for it owne sake Therefore though the best we doe be in great weakenesse yet may not this challenge the worke of the Spirit who sheweth his power in our weakenesse and by our corruptions raiseth daily matter to abase the flesh and reserue the Glorie intierly vnto God and thereby also prouoketh vs daily to renue our strength in Christ that in him we may grow vp to perfection that so the worke of Gods free grace may be daily led forward by the power of Christ which dwelleth in vs Col. 1.19 2. Seeing the Spirit worketh freely therefore howsoeuer when we haue done

their estate in sinne stayned with foule and grosse offences who both in regard of themselues had neede of some deepe humiliation to bring them to a iust horror of such wickednesse as also in regard of others that they might be terrified from committing the like seeing they haue cost their brethren so deere 5 If wee consider the diuers vses and imployments of Gods children after their conuersion that some are to bee exercised in more publicke and waighty callings for the good of the Church and others not so this also may imply a difference in the manner of their conuersion that these need not so much humiliation as the other or at least are not like to bee so put to it First because Satan will bee sure to oppose more strongly the conuersion of those that are likely to bee greater enemies of his kingdome then the other And 2. The Lord in wisedome so disposeth that theirs shall bee the greater humiliation whom he hath more noble imployment for that so being deliuered from greater terrors they may bee more bound vnto the Lord and so prooue more seruiceable vnto him as hauing experience of his mightie power to secure them against all oppositions in the execution of their callings and by these greater Humiliations might bee gratiously preuented of Spirituall Pride and Securitie which of all other will prooue the greatest impediments to the most difficult and glorious imployments Thus Saint Austin confesseth that his friend Alipius receiued his new birth with little or no strugling but as for himselfe he obtained not his quietus est without extreme terrors conflicts The reason is apparant which hath beene formerly obserued And so as it is in the Naturall birth some mothers are deliuered with lesse pangs some with more so why may it not be in the spirituall These and some such like may bee the occasions of this Quere For Resolution wherof these grounds must be layd First That there is no true conuersion of any without some Measure and degrees of anguish and trouble of conscience The reasons are 1. From the Nature of Conuersion which is from darkenesse to light from the power of Satan to the obedience of God from one contrarie to another which that it may appeare to bee so in vs as being iustified by faith wee haue peace with God and so are translated into his maruellous light so must wee discerne our contrarie state yea feele in some measure the haynousnesse and danger thereof that so wee may the better discerne the power of Christ in deliuering vs from the same 2. Nay indeede how can wee discerne the want of Christ but by the sense of our Misery how can wee prize the worth of Christ but by discerning our owne worthlesse and desperate state 3. And will not the strong man now vse all his power to keepe his hold and hinder the entrie of the stronger will hee not for his part labour to enforce our vnworthinesse to the vttermost that nature seeing no reason why it should hope for mercy in Christ might thereby be more beholding to the free goodnesse of God in sauing so vnworthy so desperat sinners Rom 4.11 4. Doth not our God hereby vindicate the glory of our conuersion onely to himselfe seeing he bringeth light out of darkenesse and heauen out of hell working not onely without but euen contrary to all meanes on our part which is the maine end of our conuersion that he which reioyceth may reioyce in the Lord 1. Cor. 1.31 Whence it followeth 1. That whosoeuer dreames of a conuersion without some sence of this former estate when he awakes he shall prooue an hungry Isa 29.7 Twofold more the child of perdition then he was before deceiued in a false birth and hardened to destruction 2. That all that are truly conuerted must hereby trie themselues that there hath beene sorrow in the euening before there is ioy in the morning that they must sowe in teares that they may reape in ioy A second Ground herein is That howsoeuer all must haue this passage from sorrow to ioy yet all haue it not in the same measure nor all at the same time altogether To this end wee must consider that as there are two principall faculties of the soule concurring to produce these agonies namely the Vnderstanding to apprehend the cause thereof and the Conscience to bee conuinced with desert thereof by application of the cause to our selues whereupon followes necessarily the captiuating of the affections to receiue the impression thereof and so to produce these bitter agonies so it pleaseth our good God wisely to dispose of these diuers instruments that in some one onely shall be sufficient to this worke of humiliation in others all shall concurre to encrease and aggrauate the same according to the seuerall conditions of the persons and his diuerse ends and imployments hee hath for them As that for some it shal be sufficient to be conuinced in iudgement with their desperat estate that in themselues there is no hope or possibilitie of saluation that so they may discerne the necessitie of Faith in Christ and apprehension of his Righteousnesse for their Iustification though their consciences be not so farre bound with the guilt thereof as that it may worke this extreme conseruation and wounding of the heart and inward affections it not being necessarie that alwayes such a fearefull distraction of the conscience and affection should follow the conuiction of the iudgement and it being sufficient for the denyall of our selues to discerne our damnable estate that so wee may discerne the necessitie of applying Christ. And surely if wee consider herein the policie of Satan who by these extreme abasings of the mind in the worke of conuersion may happily breed this conceit hereby that by these bitter agonies wee may as it were be auenged of our selues for our former courses and so as the Papists conceiue may doe somewhat ex congruo by this humiliation as a worke of preparation to fit our selues the better to the entertaining of Christ nay in some sort may deserue by this reuenge on our selues that Christ should the rather bind vp our wounds Is not the wisedome of our God admirable herein to preuent this conceit of merite and encroaching on the glory of our Sauiour by preuenting in many these extremities of abasing that so discerning onely what they haue deserued and not feeling the smart of it they may be more beholding to Christ for preuenting them of that which they feared and so walke more humbly before him all the dayes of their life as hauing beene so gracious and fauourable vnto them And that they may the rather bee prouoked hereunto behold the singular wisedome of God in leauing many of their brethren to the extreme smart of that guilt which they haue escaped that so they may acknowledge the free worke of God in their conuersion seeing it is otherwise with their brethren then with them therein that so they may in silence admire