Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	grace_n	justification_n	work_n	6,035	5	6.7945	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04269	A seasonable discourse of spirituall stedfastnesse wherein, 1. it, and a relapse, with the heads, members. and degrees of both, are exactly defined. 2. The subiects, causes, and symptomes of the fearfull sinne of apostasie cleerely expressed. As also directions, incentiues, to recouer, re-inkindle the old-cold-declining zelot. Together with arguments, motiues, that the young, or strong standing convert may be in grace firmely established. By I.B. preacher of the word.	Barlow, John, b. 1580 or 81.	1627 (1627)	STC 1439.5; ESTC S120873	89,672	290

but the vngodly Are without bonds in death except the transgressor Brethren infidelitie will raise in mans hart loose conceipts of God and of his nature almost perswade that seeing is not beleeving Had not the Prophet such thoughts as these Was he not almost by these Sophistications fallacies well neere turned out of the way Cast vpon his backe And runne the path of open profanesse Without doubt they stayed his steps for a time hindred his holy progresse Reade Psal 73. Per totum 4. Carnal confidence that is whatsoeuer we trust in except Christ Iesus The Iewes had Abraham for their father Moses to their master teacher Circumcision the seale of righteousnesse the Arke Temple Oracles all holy ordinances and worshipped at Ierusalem yet excluding Christ the true Paschall Lambe the Messiah premised What was al they did or had but a confidence in the flesh Was not Paul an Hebrew of the Hebrewes Of the kinred of Israel And of the tribe of Beniamin Circumcised the eight day Brought vp at the feet of Gamaliel And profited aboue manie Phil 3.3 a Pharisee by profession zealous towards God And lived after the most strict sect of that religion And what was all this Acts 26.5 Christ being denied of him but a fleshly confidence And may not a man effectually called perfectly iustified and truly sanctified haue an eye look back to such things Put some affiance in them whereby the better to confirme his Spirituall standing And if he doe what can it be but a carnall confidence And may not a man effectually called perfectly iustified truly Sanctified haue an eye looke backe to such things Put some affiance in them whereby the better to confirme his Spirituall standing And if he doe what can it be but a carnall confidence And a step from grace Giue we an instance of this without exception What say you of the Galatians Would not they haue their workes concur with the obedience of Christ in the act of iustification And for this cause be they not sayd to haue ended in the flesh Gal. 3.3 Fallen from the grace of God This is a secret yet a certaine truth that a man may be carried away to place some confidence in his owne worthines and if he doe according to that degree he falle●h from Spirituall stedfastnes For Christ must be all in all Col. 3.11 else no setlednesse and therefore for this very thing we truly affirme that Rome is fallen from the faith and led away with the errour of the wicked 5. Weakenesse of grace To speake properly this is not a reall or positiue cause of declining yet by occasion may haue a finger in the businesse For grace as all other things is apt to conserue it selfe and no agent by intention of its owne diminution Put a small portion of fire into a bundle of greene wood will not the act thereof by its ouer-strong adversarie in some degree be weakned So grace being a little one corruption big and mighty and besetting it round why may it not also in part be extinguished Gal. 5.17 For flesh and spirit are contraries lodge in the regenerate person are alwaies quarelling whence it comes to passe that grace being vnequally matched is over-mastered and quenched though not totally cōsumed Yea doubtlesse were it not for the spirit of God who at al times stands by the new-man and in everie conflict as Eli the lampe with oyle 1. Sam 3. Ioab David with a new created power releeues him the old-man wold put out the cādle of his life cōquer overcome him 6. Want of knowledge experimentall When a tradesman hath a stocke followeth his calling seeth how customers come in hath daily doings whereby he augmenteth his substance gaineth great things and winneth reputation will it not animate put spirit and life into him to be constant in the execution of his vocation And so will it be with the experienced Christian When he can say by proofe Psal 6 9. the Lord hath heard my prayer performed his promise comforted me in trouble and to this day hath never failed or forsaken me he will goe on in the continuall practice of holy actions 1. Cor. 6.8 thorough good report and evill report without the least relaxation There is a misterie in godlines the which being learned will make a Christian stedfast immooueable When a man hath tasted of the good word of God savingly felt the power of the world to come and is familiarly acquainted with the ravishings of the spirit nothing can stay his steps hinder his progresse to the land of the living Doth not a tradesman know in the time of bargaining the worth of skill What when commodities are deere money will doe How sweet a thing it is to gather out of a great heape Not to be beholding or to take vpon trust of his neighbour And the same doth an experienced professed Christian He vnderstands the necessitie of faith and grace when God as I may say sets Christ and salvation to sale and how were he now without the treasure of the spirit constrained like the fiue foolish virgins to borrow of his acquaintance Mat. 25. in a day of dearth he were quite vndone Who is so vnwise but knowes that goods are alwaies profitable Money will can do manie things A diligent hand maketh rich Pro. 10.4 And to him who hath Luk. 8.18 shall be giuen But too few vnderstand the gaine of Godlinesse the vse of grace the purchase may be made therwith what credit such men haue with God and what promotion he will conferre vpon them who carefully seeke it conserue it Ignorance in this thing makes manie banke-rupts politicall spirituall Now the contrarie of all these we haue mentioned will be excellent helpes for the firme retention of grace receiued Wherefore keepe thy body in good plight feede on choice meates walke in pure aire vse moderate labour recreation And drinke a little wine 2. Tim. 5.3 to prevent thy corporall infirmities Consider how plants spread in a fertile soyle beasts feed fatter in a fresh pasture and in the vse of the lawfull meanes meanes all kind of creatures thriue prosper Col. 3.5 mortifie also fleshly lusts crucifie the whole bodie of sinne for in so doing 1. Cor. 9. vlt. thou shalt remoue rubs out of the way curb the Oldman binde him to good behaviour See in like sort thou increase thy faith and that will expell infidelitie consume it as fire doth subble and driue it out of the heart to dwell as Hagar in the wildernesse And shall not hope in Christ make the Newman lustie Strong Arme him against feare Foule despaire And in all assaults cheere vp his spirits Be sure to grow in grace For is not a feeble person subject to trip To stumble Catch a fall When able bodies hould out March valiantly Win the field In a word get experience of Gods dealing with the righteous what sound ioy there is in the

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 m●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 L●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 Trava●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 d●ca●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 perform●d the which at his conversion with a most setled resolution from him proceeded

the forme of godlines 2. Tim. 3.5 they cry out against such as the Edomites of the Israelites Psal 137.7 downe with them down with them even to the ground But let these know that though their consciences be growne sencelesse God shall bring vpon them swift damnation For 2. Pet. 2.1 he is wise in heart mightie in power Iob. 9.4 who ever grew fierce against him and hath prospered And we haue an evill beast a slow-belly growne vp among vs how should we define him He is one who selleth time vseth his money as though he vsed it not striues to prevent the contingent acts of Gods prouidence And rather than the forfeiture of a band will forfeit his freedome in the kingdome of heaven And if you demand why he doth so he replies like him who being found breaking of his neighbours hedge and reprooued answered is it not better to doe thus than to be idle Certainely if David the which he never will prooue not a lyer Psal 15.5 a vsurer shall never inherit the mountaine of holinesse And what Is not the weaker sex growne mightily in wickednesse Haue we not some so masculine that they walke in their doublets Ride in their coates And salute with their caps Were but their hearts answerable to their habits their spirits proportionable to their apparell why might they not at our common musters be prest foorth for souldiers I will nor can giue such any precise precepts for cloth or colour forme or fashion yet take this in generall Suppose that now thou wert to come vnto iudgement to hold vp thy hand before the ancient of daies And to receiue thy last doome thy finall sentence of life or death eternally Wouldest thou appeare in a pointed body With embroydered haire A curled head A painted face A French ruffe And a naked brest Then as the Prophet to Naaman the Syrian 2. King 5.19 I say vnto thee goe in peace But if thou wouldst not change thy garments alter thine attire lest death on the sudden strike thee the Iudge come in an houre thou art not a ware of weigh thee in the ballance of the sanctuarie strip thee naked and cloath thee with shame eternall Shall not the husband grow iealous of that wise who at his returne is aba●hed to meete him in her daily habit I appeale vnto thee But alas For all that can be said according to the Apostles prediction we grow worse and worse 2. Tim. 3.13 deceiving and being deceiued The truth is we are so growne that the heavens grow blacke the earth barren and the whole frame of nature groanes for our growth Rom. 8.22 What should I tell you of the late Famine The blazing starre The invndations of waters The bloudie warres The late Plague wherein so many thousands haue vealed the head and given vp the Ghost Yea doth not the spirit grieue and groane for our vnnaturall growth Eph. 4.30 Wherefore let vs by vnfeined repentance and new obedience ease him of this burden or we shall groane vnder the direful wrath of the most high for ever Psal 50.22 ever O cōsider this you who forget God lest he teare in pieces there be none nothing to deliuer you Vse 3 The vse of this doctrine also serues soundly to lesson some of the better sort For doe they grow in grace increase in goodnesse I wish the Lord had not iust cause to say of our nation Rev 2.4 I haue somewhat against thee Haue we not them amongst vs who haue bin as zealous as Peter in appearance but now haue cooled their harts in warming their hands at ●aiaphas his fire Others who seemed as strong and vpright as an oake are growne weake fitting themselues to everie forme and figure in the congregation like water in a vessell Haue we not many who in times past put foorth their fingers to all pious vses But now plucke them backe draw them in as the slug her hornes Ranne well and now are letted Began in the spirit end in the flesh It s a disputable question whether we haue more Bankers in goods or grace Prodigalls who haue mispent their corporall or spirituall portiō England as Ephesus hath left though not lost her first loue Our affections were hardly kindled but soone cooled our coale glowes a while and anon ends in smoake and smother 1. King 1.1 We resemble David in his olde age little heat is within vs not any will begot into vs. Few like Caleb Iosh 14.11 are at this day as able to fight the battailes of the Lord as in former time What a weake pulse beats in all places Scarse sensible We are like a forc't peece of land whose second crop is worse then the former We heare and reade much yet in shape as Pharaohs cattell are lanke and leane deformed and ill favoured But beloved this should not ought not to be so Let but a man lye speechles fall into a consumption and become a bankrupt Oh! this like a passing bell in the eares of the world rings a dolefull sound And all who heare it smite their hands shake their heads at it send foorth deepe sighes heavie groanes But the meane while Prayer may be tongue-tyed Faith ship-wrackt and a good Co●science split in shivers yet few for these things haue the least thoughts of heart no sorrow doth pierce vs losse of this kind pinch vs. What the Apostle forewarned in these last daies is come to passe for we are plucked away with the errour of the wicked and are fallen from our owne stedfastnesse Vse 4 Are Christians to grow in grace Let vs all then looke about vs weigh the proficiencie we haue made in this Schoole Hast thou no grace It s high time to gather some Anie Striue to increase it Art thou declined Recover thy losse Hitherto hast thou growne Why adde to thy stocke still augment thy store For this dutie concernes all and therefore we will presse the point so as every person may reape profit by it You well know that a thing must be had before it can be increased For who prunes a liuelesse plant Waters a dead stake Tryall then is in the first place necessarie if we haue any seeds of grace at all 1. Signes of found grace Dost thou find and feele an emptinesse of grace in thy selfe A great want of it Then in truth tho not in full measure thou hast it For blessed are the poore in spirit Mat. 5.3 And what is this povertie but an act arising from grace whereby we sensiblie apprehend an emptienesse thereof in our soules By grace we feele grace as with one hand we doe the other Dead men perceiue no want when living persons behold their penurie Let him who is truly gracious cast his eye whither he will he seeth a vacuitie of grace in all creatures an insufficiencie to relieue him Iob. 28.14 To the depth he saith it s not to be found in thee

To the Saints and Angels nor in you They all make him the like answer Mat. 2.5.9 the fiue wise did to the foolish virgins goe thy way at the most we haue but enough for our selues Onely when he lookes vp to Iesus then he seeth sufficient for all though for the present he hath but receiued a little portion scarce any in his owne apprehension But as a voluntarie motion is an act of a living Creature So is Spirituall povertie of a gracious Christian Also if when men feele the want of it in iudgement they approue of it and in minde highlie esteeme of it is not the weakest argument that they haue it For do but demand of them what is good before God The best thing in Saint or Angell Their reply will be Grace grace Eph. 2.1.3 For what is the reasonable creature without it but a sencelesse blocke A dead carkasse And a child of wrath Defiling the earth infecting the ayre provoking the heavens neere vnto cursing Heb. 6.8 everlasting burning Want and worth are graces inseparable companions the contrarie corruptions ring-leaders and the evident tokens of gracelesse persons 3. After these two proceeds an earnest desire to be partaker of it and hungring and thirsting for it else for ought I know thou hast cause to question the truth of thy Sanctification A very cast-away say some may goe thus farre that is see the want and worth of it yea eagerly hunger and thirst after it But I am not of their opinion For hungring and thirsting are actions of a living not a dead man And is not the promise of blessednesse Mat 5.6 made to such Doest thou esteeme grace aboue thy appointed food Prize it more Iob. 23.12 than thousands of silver or ten thousand riu●rs of oyle Mich. 6.7 Account all things nothing in comparison of it And often and earn●stly cryest O how I long for grace Then be of good comfort the water of life the guest of grace is come to thy house 4. Adde to the former three care and constancie in the vse of the meanes whereby it is begunne and increased And that will seale vp all Dost thou heare the word in s●ason And out of seas●n Iob. 27 10. Call vpon God at all times in publike Private Meditate in the law of God night and day Come often to the table of the Lord Psal 1.2 to drinke the water of life Eate the bread of heaven Psal 16.3 Art thou a companion to the excellent Cryest thou to Ministers Sirs what shall I doe to grow in grace Then grace thou hast For these are not the motions of the flesh but of the Spirit 5. Art thou yet in doubt Then tell me what conflict thou hast within thee Gen. 25.22 Feelest thou twinnes strugling in thy wombe Cryest thou often why am I thus Is any Christians condition Lam. 1.12 like to my conition Then thou art borne of God grace is formed in thee indeed Fire and water will quarrell on the same hearth Gal. 5.17 So will grace corruption in the same heart for these latter as the former are contraries When all is peace at home the old-man possesseth the house A gracious man hath an vniversall strife within himselfe Mat. 12.29 for reason against reason iudgement against iudgement will against will and affection against affection will be at variance But if thou feele this kind of combate waxe not faint but gather heart for God hath begunne his good worke in thee Rev. 17.14 thou art called faithful chosen and thy captaine Christ hath led thee to skirmish against his and thine enemies in the sands of Sanctification 6. Finally doth Sathan now more tempt thee than in times past Why this is not the least marke of Christs sheep The Dev●ll is like a gentleman thiefe who breaketh into a rich mans house not a poore naked cottage carrieth a way as the Israelites did from the Egyptians Exod. 12.35 Siluer plate golden eare-rings and the choicest Iewells Not as the Gibeonits are said to meete Ioshua withall Iosh 9.4.5 Mouldie bread rent bottels old shoes clowted This red Dragon like a bloodie butcher so long as we trudge the blind steps to the slaughter-house of hell as direct as he can guide vs and as fast as he would haue vs he keepeth himselfe a farre off whistleth some pleasant note in our eares for should he hallow out some feare full noise of temptation we like frighted cattell might stand still throw vp the head looke about snuffe and runne foorth of the road-way but when by the spirit of God our eyes are vnseeled we smell the danger before vs begin to stay our steps and alt●r our paths then straight shall we haue a band of the cruell Mastiues of his temptations to fly in our faces plucke vs by the throat that if possible we might returne into the bl●cke path of damnation wherein we had informer time walked Proue thy selfe now examine thy owne soule And if thou canst say in truth that the forenamed things are in thee and strong and strange temptations be fall thee be thou then assured in some degree thou art Sanctified question the matter no more but withal speed and diligence set thy selfe to increase it Now because as Elias said to Elishah 2. King 2.10 this is no easie taske which is required of thee take these rules following to direct thee to the better performance of this so commendable so profitable a dutie And first Helpes to grow in grace 1. Wouldest thou grow in grac● Then emptie thy soule of corruption These twinnes will not thrive in the same wombe 1. Cor. 5.7 For if the old-man increase the new must decrease the destruct●on of the former is the generation of the latter This Ishmael must be throwne out else ill will it fare with brother Isaak This Barabbas is to be crucified or the Babe Iesus shall Plucke vp the cockell wil not the good graine flourish So mortifie the flesh and reviue the Spirit 1 Thess 5.22 2 Take heed of actuall sinne for a double wound followes such a blow It strengthens the old weakens the new-man what is that but fuell to the flesh quench-coale to the spirit Banish then all evill workes from thine hands rotten speech from thy tongue and vaine motions out of thy minde As Christ the money-changers whip all kinde of wickednesse cast it foorth of thy temple spare not any vnder what pretence soever 3. Neglect not the least meanes Heare reade meditate fast pray receiue the Lords supper and haue none of his ordinances in contempt Put not them a sunder Christ hath coupled together Col. 3.16 lest he stoppe that pipe roll a stone on that wells mouth wherat thou delightest to drinke most Iam. 6.13.14 God would haue all the Vessels and instruments of the Sanctuarie had in honour the water of life into the cisterne of our soule fl wes

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 appearāce 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 godl●nesse And to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse For if these things be in you and abound you shall neither be barren nor vnfrui●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 l●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