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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	father_n	see_v	son_n	12,108	5	5.6436	4	true

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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

made And by him For the father worketh hither to and he worketh And for him Thou art worthie O Lord Rev. 4.11 to receiue honor and glorie and power For thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are Eccle. 12.1 and were created Haue we not a command to remember him who formed vs Psal 147.9 Doe not the Ravens looke vp vnto him The windes and Sea obey him And shall we Christians then be ignorant of him Certainely Mar. 4.41 this were a sinne Iob. 31.12 would eate vp all our increase a fire would devoure to destruction Reas 3 And what to be desired effects will this knowledge worke 1 Pet. 1.8 For who ever knew Christ but was infl●med with the loue of him Acts 9.6 Stood in great awe of him Psal 116.7 Humbled himselfe before him Put his confidence in him And said Soule returne vnto thy rest The Oxe Isa 1.3 knoweth his owner the Asse his masters cribbe and shall not man be acquainted with his Lord Is it not eternall life Io. 17.3 to know Christ Iesus Everlasting death to be ignorant of him Tell me What was the Gentiles mis●ry but that they were strangers from him Eph 4.18 The Athenians sinne but that all their devotion was do e to an vnknowne God Acts. 17.23 The Lepers ingratefulnesse Luk. 17.17 except that they returned not thankes vnto him And what sets foorth Pauls praise more Phil. 3.9 than his earnest desire to know the Lord Iesus and to be found in him Reas 4 To conclude haue we not time and meanes to illighten our eyes that we might see Christ in open vision For doth not the Spirit thorow the whole Bible set him foorth in pl●ine phrases Shining prophecies In tipes ●arables And similitudes What are the Scriptures but the subiect matter of him In each storie page verse may we not haue some hint some glympse of him Beloved all the lines in the holy letters meete in Christ as their proper Center And such as come short of that point are profitable for nothing He is the Alpha and Omega α. ω. Rev. 1.18 the beginning and end of all famous h stories noble acts and renowned persons the which are good before God Shall we then with the want root in the earth And haue no care to know Christ Iesus What if we know him a little Will that serue our turnes No no our eye spirituall is like his corporall who was borne blinde Mar. 8.24.25 but opened by degrees This obiect is profound deepe And the better we vnderstand it the more powerfully profitably will it produce the forenamed gracious eff cts Therefore as get so grow we must in the knowledge of Christ Iesus The knowledge of Christ distributed And here it is to be obserued that the knowledge of Christ is either intellectuall or experimentall When we doe with the act of our vnderstanding apprehend a thing be it what you will it is intellectuall knowledge But we purpose not to exceed our bounds We will confine our selues within the limits of our present Obiect Christ Iesus Now this intellectuall knowledge of Christ is of his person or offices For the former we are to consider these foure following particulars 1. In Christ we are to note his two natures the Divine and Humane both which concur and are hypostatically vnited to make one individuall Person Ioh. 1.14 Heb. 2.16 The word was made flesh he tooke not on him Mat. 1.23 the nature of Angels but he tooke on him the seed of Abraham Whence it is that he is called Emanuel Heb. 10.5 which being interpreted is God with vs. So that in the Person of Christ 1 Ioh. 5.20 was perfect manhood a body thou hast fitted me And perfect God-head this is the very God and eternall life 2. And in the manhood of Christ obserue a soule a body Luk. 23.46 A soule Father into thine hands I commend my Spirit And a body Behold my hands and my feet Luk. 24.39 that it is I my selfe handle me and see For a spirit hath not flesh bones as you see me haue Where note by the way Mat. 26.39 that Christ had a twofold will one from his Deitie another flowing from his Humanitie Therefore praying he sayd O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt As he was God the will of the father and his were the same 3. Thirdly He was borne of a Virgin his mother knew not man Luk. 2.35 for the Holy-ghost came vpon her the power of the most high over-shadowed her And thus it must be For if he had proceeded by naturall pro●agation Psal 51.5 he in his conception had bin polluted with orriginall corruption And then he cou●d not haue bin a meet mediator and holy sacrificer to haue made an ato●ement for the sinnes of the people For such an high Priest it behoved vs to haue Heb. 7.26 as was holy harmelesse vndefiled separat from sinners and made higher than the heavens in truth Christs originall puritie is to equall Adams at his Crea●ion that the roote being holy all the bra●ches may in like maner Heb. 7.3 Christ as man had no Father as God no mother And ther●fore the true Melchizedek without father with●ut mother 4. The last thing is that in the very instant of Christ● conception the two natures were inseparably knit together and in substance and actions ever remained distinct either from other conserving their proper qualities from all mixture or confusion And as the soule and body being vnited make one intire man so the two natures conioyned constitute but one individuall person For marke this Christ did not assume to his Deitie the person but the nature of man neither did the humani●ie for a moment subsist by it selfe but in the very act of its conception was vnited to the Godhead so alwaies continued for ever after yea when Christs soule and body at his death were separated yet neither of them from the Deitie This vnion as it is wonderfull so is it eternally indissoluble Thus much of the intelectual knowledge of Christs person his Offices are now to be handled in order 1. And we will begin with his Priesthood Heb. 7.11 Levit. 10 2.3 Heb. 5.1.2 that Christ was a Priest the Scripture in many places speaketh evidently And who was shadowed out by Aaron and his succ●ssors but the high Priest of our soules Christ Iesus For he was to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sinnes to haue compassion vpon the ignorant and to make a reconciliation for them who were out of the way And here we may note the differences betwixt the Priest-hood of Christ and that of others 1. He was of the tribe of Iudah they were all of Levi. 2. He was God-man but they meere men 3. He was without sin

to know him Ioh. 6.35 Thy Bread and Wine do represent him thy apparell put thee in mind of Rom 13.14 him and thy lying downe resemble his lying downe of his life for thee Is not thy rising vp Rom. 13.14 a type of his resurrection Or by way of allusion might be When thou pe●pest into thy well-stored Chest it will call to remembrance the Arke of the Couenant for Christ Ioh. 10 7. Ioh. 15.10 Cant 2.1 as it kept the Law of righteousnesse for vs. I am the doore saith he that thy out-going and in-coming might be in his name with his leaue Let the trees of the forrest teach thee the Roses of the field tell thee the light instruct thee and the Rocks Ioh. 1.9 giue thee to vnderstand What obi●ct lyable to sence Christ assumes not to himselfe that he might gaine some Or leaue them without excuse who will not l●arne Princes and poore pers●nes point at him Hilles and Valleys are not without refer●nce to him Bulles and Heifers Rams Lambes Kine Calues when they low and bleate giue some glimpse of him call vnto him Doth God all this for no end No no he would haue vs to looke thorow the creatures as so many opticke glasses more clearely to apprehend the Lord Iesus Christ should be still in our hearts and hands words and actions all Christ nothing but Christ. He who desires to know or affect any person before him equall to him or without him is but carnall For in all relations of husbands Mat. 22 49 wiues children friends We should minde him And where he is formed we must fix our affection on nothing ese no where else Let but a gracious man walke in the desart thus he saith to himselfe in the like place was my Lord tempted Mat 4.1 rest on the toppe of an h●l● he mindes the morn● from whence he ascended Acts. 1.10.11 throw vp his head behold how the winde driues away the darke clo●des then he thinkes these are the Chario●s which carried away my master And one of these daies he wi l r●turne ryd●●g on them They reioyce his soule as much as Iosephs waggon did his aged father Gen. 4 5.27 when he saw it came to fetch him his Spirit is stirred reviued in him What can I more say How should I mooue thee Induce thee No Satisf●ction but by Iesus going to the father without him or hope of heaven but in him Consider now what I haue said 2 Tim. 2.7 and the Lord g ue thee vnderstanding in these things Amen Of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Not to collect all we might from this two-fold relation we will only insist of this doctrine that Doct. 5 Christ Iesus is mans Saviour I say mans not the Ang●l● 1. For the good they are the elect of God kept their station 1 Tim 5.21 obeyed his command and so are confirmed in a condition of everlasting blessednesse 2. And for the bad they as some will fell from God without any tempter And therfore he left them without a mediator Or as others hold sinned vnto death And so are secluded from all grace mercie Iud. 6. reserued in the everlasting chaines of darkenes against the iudgement of the great day Heb. 2.16 Howeuer it be sure I am that Christ assumed not their nature and therfore he is none of their Saviour And Christ Iesus is mans saviour if we consider his Sufficiencie Efficiencie His Sufficiencie is that whereby he is able to saue the lapsed posteritie of Adam And it consisteth in his two natures the God-head Manhood God our Saviour must be for these following reasons 1 Tim. 2.6 1. That Adams sinne and his satisfaction might be proportionable an infinite iustice being ofended requireth an equall satisfaction Mans sinne was infin●te in regard of the obiect Person he offended Christs sufferings are infinite in respect of the dignitie of his Person who satisfied And as finite sinnes infinitly offended the infinite God So finite sufferings infinitly satisfied the infinite God 2. And had not our Saviour bin God how could he haue overcome Sathan Death Hell and all the Churches enemies Luk. 11.22 If a strong man possesse the house a stronger than he must dispossesse him take the spoyle from him This is he Isa 63.1.2 who came from Edom with Garments dyed from Bozrah travailing in his strength speaking in righteousnesse mightie to saue whose apparell was red like him who treadeth the wine fat 3. And what May a suretie vndertake a debt the discharge whereof would bring damage to himselfe were not this Eccle 7.16 to be iust overmuch To exceede and goe beyond our bounds Now of Christ had not bin God how should he haue layd downe his life which tooke was part of the payment and tooke it vp againe without detriment losse to his owne person But being God he might he did And gained glorie by so doing 4. This also was necessarie that the iustice of the Father might certainely be satisfied and mans salvation not contingent doubtfull For Christ the suretie being God it was impossible he should sinne be seduced or fayle in the performance of his promise keeking of his covenant had he bin as Adam was but a meere man he might haue bin overcome by temptation and then the Creditor had come short of his paymen● the debtor of his Salvation ●er 17.5 And is not a curse threatned to him who trusteth in man Iob. 15.15 Maketh flesh his arme And was there any stedfastnes found in the very Angels And man Christ must be else no sufficient saviour 1 Iob. 19.25 1. That being our kinsman according to the flesh he might haue a true title and proprietie to redeeme vs who by sinne like Esau haue sold our inheritance Lev. 25.24 And this the Law required for the redemption of a brothers land Ier. 32 7. recovering his possession And raising vp of seed vnto him Ruth 4.4 2. And in that he might be subiect to the Law lyable to passion Gal 4.4 for the God-head is not bound to obedience is impatible neither in any tollerable sence may be reputed accursed 3. It was the Humane nature Heb. 7.22 whereby God was offended that suffered and through the which his iustice was to be satisfied And is not this equall Rom. 3.26 4. Finally he must be man Heb. 2.27 and 4.15 else how could he haue a fellow-feeling of our infirmities Comfort vs in all our miseries And succour them who are tempted It remaineth therfore for an infallible truth that the sufficiencie of our Sav our consisteth in his two natures the man-hood made subiect to passiō passion And the God-head gaue dignitie to his sufferings Now we are to speak of Christs efficiencie what it is wherin it consisteth The efficiencie of Christ is that wherby he worketh all in all things necessar ly required for mans salvation And it

A SEASONABLE DISCOVRSE 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 Loe thus haue we searched it So it is heare it and know it for thy good IOB 5.27 By I.B. Preacher of the Word LONDON Printed by I D. for Iohn Bellamie and are to be sould at the three Golden Lyons neere the royall Exchange 1627. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL NICHOLAS INCE Maior of the City Chester And to the worshipfull Aldermen his brethren the Sheriffes with all who beare Office in that much honoured Corporation I.B. wisheth growth in grace and in the knowledge of Christ Iesus Worthy Sirs IT s a true saying That one sinner destroyeth much good Eccl. 9. vlt. For like a bad Tree he possesseth the place of a better And though barren devoureth equall nutriment with him that beareth Besides Luk 13.7 he Cumbers the ground bring foorth ill fruite whe●soever he stands 2. Chro. 10 13.14 Let Rehoboam be rooted in the land of Iudah the grave Counsell of the aged is reiected that of greene youth is accepted he findes shields of Gold 1 King 14.27 leaves them of brasse And in taxing of the subiect makes his little finger heavier than the whole body of his father Set a Pilat in the soyle of iudicature Mat. 27.26 periurie is approved Barabbas delivered And Iesus Christ the righteous condemned Plant a proud Pharisee in the vineyard of the Church Math. 23.5 c he glorieth in swelling tytles claimes the highest roome at the Table And covets the chiefest seate in the Synagogue He tythes Mint Cummin Luk. 11.42 omits mercy truth straines at a Gnat swallowes a Camell violently pressing the traditions of men Mat. 23.3 desparatly neglecting the Commandments of God He saith and doth not pointing at the way to heaven by speech treading the path to hell by practise And O shameles hipocrit the Phylacteries vpon his garmēts Mar. 12.40 are the largest his prayers in the Temple are the longest And if this be thus Why then are the prophane Prodigalls reputed kind men styled good fellowes And enemies to none Iosh 22 2● except themselves Did not one man sin And wrath fell on all the Congregation 2. Sam. 21 Was not the whole land plagued in the dayes of David three yeeres together with famine because Saul and his bloody house slew the Gibeonits Read and see And from this ground may we not be glad when vnfruitfull trees are cut downe Exod. 15.1 What did Moses Deborah Iudg. 5.1 Let it goe well with the righteous doth not the Citie reioyce Pro. 11.10 And when the wicked perish is there not shouting Will it not also follow hence that its a worthy worke by lawful meanes to remove gracelesse men 2 King 10.24 To roote them out of Church Countrey Kingdome But not to aime beyond the marke Let me be bold from the wise kings proverb to advise you exhort you that in all your elections you lay hands rashly on no man Tim. 5.22 Call to minde Iothams parable Plant a bramble in your Citie ●dg 9.14 18 he will hang on each good mans sleeve And if not teare your flesh yet prick your fingers Set him in the Sanctuarie Mat. 21.13 your Fathers house will be a denne of Theeues Place him where you please Luk. 13.7 he shall make the ground barren Or else ever hold me guiltie of a damnable lye For your selues like Iob Iob. 29.14 be clothed with the Garment of iustice filled with the fruite of righteousnesse In your old-age Phil. 1.11 be fat flourishing Governe your families well Psal 92.14 So shall you the Citie better Eph. 6.4 Nurse vp your Children in the feare of God And if need require let them marrie Tread not in the steppes of bastard Protestants 1. Cor. 7.36 who will yoke their sonnes to vntamed heifers if but laden with thicke clay Their Daughters to verie Asses have they pastures large enough Graffe yours into Gods stocke 1 Cor. 7.39 And account your Prayers their greatest portion Let others halt betweene two opinions but as Ioshuah doe you and yours serve the Lord. Iosh 24.15 If you demand why this little treatise is directed to you My defence is at hand Did you not vnexpected give me a free and generall call to be one of your Citie Lacturers Shall I be thought worthy to speak And not to write vnto you Againe when one meane failes to manifest affection gratefull minds will vse another The Law after Adams fall was vnable to revive him Then did not God reveale the Gospell In the like case may not his practise be my president Moreover not to boast of all the papers I ever penned these by my iudicious friends have bin best approved most desired to be published And finally how I love you my soule knoweth right-well But nothing doubting of your acceptance I commend you to God the word of his grace Acts 20.32 which is able to build further And to give you an inheritance among all them that are Sanctified Yours such as he is to do you seruice I. B. To the Reader CHristian Reader according to the Apostles Prediction 2 Tim. 3.1 c. we live in perillous times the last and worst age of the world For are not men Lovers of themselves Coveteous Boasters Proud And what not Who can number the dust of Atheists Papists Hereticks Hipocrits Or measure the spatious Gloabe of meere Formalists Selfe-condemned Apostats Have we not a Viperous generation among vs who professe themselves to be of the damned Crew Will sweare for a wager Drinke health 's to the Devill And account it their Grace to be reputed gracelesse Crying in the Epicure an language Let vs eate and drinke 1 Cor. 15.32 for to morrow we shall dye And is not the heavie hand of our God gone out against vs How many worthy men some whereof our English forrest brought foorth in Germanie Bohemia And the Palatinate are fallen vpon the sword And have spilt their bloud like water on the ground Who can tyth the widowes or tell the tenth part of fatherlesse children that fold their armes wring their hands And shed teares because the Enemie hath possessed the Land Is not their fathers house at Prage Heidelberg Math. 21.13 And Bre-da made a denne of Theeves Hath not that noble Prince And right noble Princesse Palatine bin pursued as David before Saul of the vncircumcised Philistines Carried their lives in their hands And many a time constrained to refresh their fainting spirits to put their royall feet vnder the Table of some Churlish Naball And ah my

lance foorth and saile to Tarshish his soule hath tooke a spirituall nappe They who grow busie-bodies in oth●r mens matters and overlooke their own are turned backward Idle censorious Christians either never had good stocke or they haue diminished their store For a diligent hand maketh rich as well in spirituall as corporall things Vnthrifts and Loyterers alwaies dye beggers 4. When we feebly perfourme holy actions or fearefully omit them He who preacheth without power prayeth but not fervently singeth Psalmes without ravishings of the spirit and approacheth into Gods presence without trembling serious preparation is in a spirituall consumption That man who speakes fainly walkes limpingly and workes laz●ly is either a Laisht a Gibeoxit or an Ephramite idle luskish or a counterfeite if his naturall habits and abilities be not decayed I may affirme the same of the other From this ground Col. 4.17 Paul might be occasioned to put Archippus in mind to looke to his ministerie 5. A fift symptome is a quiet concoction of what heretofore we haue distasted 1. Sam. 24.5 spued out holding the same as then for loathsome meates Take David in his right temper 2. Sam. 11.25 touch but Sauls lap and his heart smites him if disordered sheath his sword in the bowels of Vriah it will not checke him Men digest that being a sleepe which were they waking would cause them vomit A soule in her best plight as she abhors the greatest So hates the least knowne evill 6. Finally When men offend 2. Chro 16 10. and wil not endure reproofe If Asa imprison the Prophet Ionah Ion. 4 9. tell God he doth well to be angrie And Iob challenge him the schooles Iob. 13.3 they all three are gone downe the winde He who enters into his lodging bolts the doore shuts the window stretcheth himselfe on his bed and drawes the curtaines is certainely inclined to sleepe if he storme cast the stau●s about being awaked you may safely conclude he hath no will to worke You haue heard that Spirituall stedfastnes may be fallen from what it is with the kindes causes and Symptomes of it And now from all the particulars specified and our method propounded we proceede to application Vse .1 And from the foregoing groundes we first conclude against our adversaries that saving grace once obtained cannot totally be consumed destroyed Gaine say we doe not dare not that the acts may not be for a season suspended or the very habit from which they flow Rom. 11.29 weakened But this we denie that the tree with all her fruits may vniversally and finally be blasted Ioh. 11.42 withered For are not the gifts and calling of God without repentance Heb. 4 14. Doth not the Son intercede for vs Will the Father denie him any thing Shall the spirit permit his worke to be abolished 1. Cor. 3.16 Is it equall that the New-man suffer for the Old-mans offence Phil. 1.6 For all that is borne of God sinneth not 1. Io. 3.9 If one member perish would not the bodie of Christ be imperfect Should one finally fall by the same cause why not all And then might not Christ dye in vaine Were not his end at the least in part made frustrate What fearefull and to be abhorred consequents are these What if corruption like a land-flood gather head Grow bigge Overflow the bankes And seeme to drowne all the good graine in the nether groundes Yet in a trice shall it not be dried vp Vanish as if it never had bin When as grace like a little river keepes the chanell runnes continually though shee haue no such boyleings Swellings But we leave them to drinke vp puddle who dislike to tast spring water Vse 2 Learn we hence to avoide the over-forward censuring of backe-sliders lest we condemne the generation of the righteous What if Some who haue made a great profession giue backe Will it follow that they are finally Totally fallen Haue made an apostasie Doe we not reade of many of the Lords worthies who fell in some degree from grace obtained Shall we thence conclude they made shipwracke of all Never recouered In no sort Did not David decline Runne out of the road-way when he returned to murder dissimulation adultery Y●t held he not the habit of grace in some measure sound 1. King 11.5 What did his sonne Salomon also In his yonger yeeres tooke he not many out landish women In his ripe age went he not after Astoreth the Goddesse of the Zidonians And Milcom the abhomination of the Amorits Build an high place for Chemosh and Molech the abhomination of Moab 2 Chro. 16.10 and Ammon Was not Asa wroth with the Seer Put him in the prison house And at the same time oppresse many of the people What should I relate Noahs drunkennesse Lots incest Abrahams equivocation Moses his staggering Ionahs anger Or Peters deniall of his master Lying Swearing Cursing He who had seene these might he not haue bin swayed to haue past a round censure vpon them And in so doing had he not gone beyond his last Pluckt vp plants of righteousnesse What if the Sunne stand still Goe backe many degrees May it not returne to its former motion Runne its course as in the daies of old Christians in this oft get it mist step too farre It s a soule Symptom of a declining soule to passe a rash censure of his failing brethren Yea these many times runne out of the way when they are complaining of others wandrings When a tree le ts fal her fruit casts her leaues lookes dead is it dead No the spring is not farre off the Sunne is in his regresse and then shall shee bloome beare in abundance Wherefore lay thine hand vpon thy mouth be not rash to vtter this thing but rather be swift to heare Iam. 1.19 slow to censure Vse 3 And what we haue in the doctrine prooved may teach a declining Christian a two-fold lesson The former when he discernes his spirituall decay to repent Smite his hand vpon his thigh and be ashamed that with Ephraim Ier. 31.19 he hath mispent the time of his youth as the Prodigall runne from his father Luk. 15.13 wasted his stocke and lost part of his portion The latter is when he conceiues that he cannot finally fall his store totally be consumed to gather heart and be of good comfort For there is life in the roote nature is not wholly destroyed Isa 65.8 the cluster of grapes is sound and there is a blessing in it What if the water ebbe Shall it never flow The babe not spring Is it dead in the wombe The sunne eclipsed His bodie consumed Israel once or twise flee Will it follow they shall never returne Fight Win the field I tell thee grace is not like Ionah's gourd Ion. 4.8 that springs in a morning withers in a moment neither the Lillies which flourish this day the next cast into the Ouen and burned We may not

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 Garner as lead in the Cannons belly Who built the Iewes a Synagogue Made coates for the poore Refreshed Paul in bands Were they not persons furnished filled with the hot actiue mightie working powder of grace Consult and see Wherefore thou Embrio Thou Neo-phyt Who art formed in the Churches wombe graffed into the true oliue tree and now beginst to bud to flourish be not content with a meane stature an ordinarie growth but be thou enlarged And O thou Prodigall Luk. 15.13 Whose portion in part is spent come to thy selfe confesse thy fault returne to thy father be thou reconciled So shalt thou like that valiant Nazarit Iudg 16.22 29 recover thy decaied strength binde the wedding garment faster to thee lay hold on the pillers of promise pull downe Sathans throne and cast the gates of hell from off her hinges And thou growne● Christian I must raise thee to an higher pitch wind thee to the greatest period if possible of sanctification For thou art not to rest at an ordinarie degree of grace but to encrease like Noahs floud vntill all the vacuities of thy emptie channels be filled the tops of the aspiring hills mountaines be covered And the depth be vnmeasurable not to be sounded It were to be wished that every Christian could giue the like testimonie of himselfe Iob. 32.18.19 as doth Elihu I am full of matter my bellie is as wine which hath no vent it is readie to burst like new bottels Grow we should not onely in quantity of grace but also in the qualitie of it Our gifts are to be of a more ●ure and defecate nature When an apple comes to it bignesse we see it growes in colour taste and proceedes to a better rellish a more delectable temper and so it should must be with vs Christians Wherefore let no meanes be omitted which may further thee nor incentiues vnthought on that may provoke thee And first make it thy chiefest care daily imployment to crucifie the old-man with all his lusts Gal. 5.24 Smite him on the face none shall revile thee beate him blacke blew it s no breach of law Bray this foole in a morter stampe him to powder burne him into ashes and bereaue him of his life Or deale with him as it was done to the Levits concubine Iudg 19. force him to death cut him in twelue peeces send them into the coasts of Golg●tha And if no man will God shall commend thee reward thee for it But because when thou hast done thy best and worst some palme of this cursed Iezabell will remaine 2 King 9. some part of his skull vndevoured And some drops of his bloud not lapped vp yet for all this be not out of hart waxe not fainte in this quarrell but lay on load play the man stil As the Philistines by Sampson Iudg 16. plucke out his eyes shaue of his haire cause him to grinde in the mill of mortification and take away his strength Inioyne him to keepe a perpetuall fast creepe on his brest or with the serpent licke vp the dust and so fall into a sensible incurable consumption Stop his cares as Stevens auditors with David curbe him by a bit And like Agabus with the girdle of the word binde him hand and foote Suffer him not to kicke to spraule or moue a very finger to peepe listen or whisper For if he doe he will recouer renew his vigour and buffet the new-man Strangle all his ill motions at the conception burie them in the wombe Let not one of them haue a timely birth And if for all this as it is like enough he will be medling not brought to subiection then make him a Mendicant grant him a passe to beg Or if not so liue like the Monke in the order of idlenesse lazines may it please you consecrate him to Baal permit him to be his Priest that he may lash his scurvie skin lance his putrified flesh And at the last with Iudas become his owne executioner Doe thus for none but Sathan will mourne at his death seeke to raise him vp againe When this Saul is slaine then shall little David grow stronger and stronger fiercer and fiercer 2 Take further advise and be a companion to those who feare God haue all thy delight Psal 119 63. and 16.3 in the most excellent Christians The better the obiect is the more content it giues to the senses And is not the best of all things most to be desired When Christ talked with his Disciples Luk. 24.32 their hearts grew hot within them When Paul met Sylas Acts 18.5 he burned in spirit Will not the greenest billet fire with the drie And one flaming bavin kindle a thousand One who is strong in the grace of God by a secret operation conveieth as the loadstone into iron power and vigour into all who touch him His praiers conference gestures and whole carriage is it not like a costly banquet which calle●h foorth the fainting Spirits armes them with a fresh infused power as if a man had bin at the wine Doubtlesse the more we apprehend the worke of grace in any the more will it reviue the new-m●n in vs curb the old And by an over-ruling command binde all his lawlesse members to the peace Yong plants thriue not vnder dropping trees weake Christians grow not in lewd company such a fire warmes the hands cooles the heart kindleth the flesh quencheth the Spirit 3. And if by serious examination thou finde in thy selfe some raging corruption for as Abraham his beloued sonne each convert hath his darl ng sinne then vp with it by the rootes aboue all other To it with the mattocke of the law downe with it to the ground for such a weede vnmortified will nourish all the rest about it Want of wit in this kind of husbandrie makes the good graine of grace to grow slowlie looke lancke and leane When men would haue a rough field fitted for the plow will they not first rid vp the strongest trees And then fall to the weaker Therefore set vpon thy vnruliest lust fight not with small or great in the entrance of this battell but with the Prince onely Giue him not a blow and be gone But hack and hew vntill he fall on the ground 1 Sam. 17.51 For when this Giant is dead all the armie will faint be put to flight And with the turning of an hand be conquered overcome 4. Adde to all private and frequent prayer Secret meales make a fat body Closet-duties a w●ll-liking minde Will not the tender dew that falls in the silent night more refresh and cause the herbes to flourish than a great showre of wet in the stirring day For the one is lesse mingled with the sunne and winde of hypocrisie than the other And God like man giues the choicest richest gifts in secret Iam. 4.6 When thou hast this and thus done be humble in thine owne eye haue a low conceit of