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abide_v thrive_v and_o grow_v to_o the_o end_n be_v three_o way_n testify_v unto_o in_o the_o scripture_n 1._o in_o that_o it_o be_v compare_v unto_o thing_n of_o the_o most_o infallible_a increase_n and_o progress_n for_o beside_o that_o it_o be_v growth_n be_v frequent_o liken_v unto_o that_o of_o plant_n and_o tree_n well_o water_v and_o in_o a_o fruitful_a soil_n which_o fail_v not_o to_o spring_v unless_o it_o be_v from_o some_o external_a violence_n it_o be_v likewise_o compare_v unto_o such_o thing_n as_o who_o progress_n be_v absolute_o infallible_a prov._n 4._o 18._o the_o path_n of_o the_o just_a be_v as_o the_o shine_a light_n that_o shine_v more_o and_o more_o to_o the_o perfect_a day_n the_o path_n of_o the_o just_a be_v his_o covenant-walk_a before_o god_n as_o it_o be_v frequent_o call_v in_o the_o scripture_n psal._n 119._o 35._o 105._o isa._n 26._o 7._o psal._n 23._o 3._o mat._n 3._o 3_o heb._n 12._o 13._o and_o it_o comprise_v the_o principle_n profession_n and_o 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flourish_v and_o be_v make_v fruitful_a to_o the_o end_n i_o shall_v brief_o call_v over_o one_o of_o they_o only_o at_o present_a which_o be_v record_v isa._n 44._o 3_o 4._o i_o will_v pour_v water_n on_o he_o that_o be_v thirsty_a and_o flood_n upon_o the_o dry_a ground_n i_o will_v pour_v my_o spirit_n upon_o thy_o seed_n and_o my_o blessing_n upon_o thy_o offspring_n and_o they_o shall_v spring_v up_o as_o among_o the_o grass_n as_o willow_n by_o the_o water_n course_n although_o this_o promise_n may_v have_v respect_n unto_o the_o gracious_a deal_n of_o god_n with_o the_o people_n of_o the_o jew_n after_o their_o return_n from_o the_o captivity_n yet_o have_v it_o so_o only_o as_o it_o be_v typical_a of_o the_o redemption_n of_o the_o church_n by_o jesus_n christ_n but_o it_o
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case_n have_v provide_v he_o will_v pour_v the_o sanctify_a water_n of_o his_o spirit_n and_o the_o blessing_n of_o his_o grace_n upon_o we_o and_o this_o he_o will_v so_o do_v as_o to_o cause_v we_o to_o spring_v up_o as_o among_o the_o grass_n as_o willow_n by_o the_o water_n course_n there_o be_v nothing_o of_o a_o more_o eminent_a and_o almost_o visible_a growth_n than_o willow_n by_o the_o water_n course_n such_o shall_v be_v the_o spiritual_a growth_n of_o believer_n under_o the_o influence_n of_o these_o promise_n that_o be_v they_o shall_v be_v fat_a and_o flourish_a and_o still_o bring_v forth_o fruit_n and_o other_o promise_n of_o the_o same_o nature_n there_o be_v many_o but_o we_o must_v observe_v two_o thing_n concern_v they_o that_o we_o may_v be_v satisfy_v in_o their_o accomplishment_n as_o 1._o the_o promise_n of_o the_o new_a covenant_n as_o unto_o the_o first_o communication_n of_o grace_n unto_o the_o elect_n be_v absolute_a and_o inconditional_a they_o be_v the_o executive_a conveyance_n of_o god_n immutable_a purpose_n and_o decree_n and_o what_o shall_v be_v the_o condition_n of_o the_o communication_n of_o the_o first_o grace_n unto_o we_o nothing_o that_o be_v not_o grace_n can_v be_v so_o if_o it_o be_v say_v that_o this_o also_o be_v of_o god_n in_o we_o which_o be_v the_o condition_n of_o the_o communication_n of_o the_o first_o save_v grace_n unto_o we_o than_o i_o will_v know_v whether_o that_o be_v bestow_v on_o we_o without_o any_o condition_n if_o it_o be_v then_o that_o be_v the_o first_o grace_n as_o be_v absolute_o free_a if_o it_o be_v not_o than_o what_o be_v the_o condition_n whereon_o it_o be_v bestow_v concern_v which_o the_o same_o enquiry_n must_v be_v make_v and_o so_o for_o ever_o but_o this_o be_v the_o glory_n of_o convenant_n promise_v that_o as_o unto_o the_o communication_n of_o the_o grace_n of_o conversion_n and_o sanctification_n unto_o the_o elect_n they_o be_v absolute_o free_a and_o inconditionnate_a but_o 2._o the_o promise_n which_o respect_v the_o growth_n degree_n and_o measure_n of_o this_o grace_n in_o believer_n be_v not_o so_o there_o be_v many_o duty_n require_v of_o we_o that_o these_o promise_n may_v be_v accomplish_v towards_o we_o and_o in_o we_o yea_o watchful_a diligence_n in_o universal_a gospel_n obedience_n be_v expect_v from_o we_o unto_o this_o end_n see_v 2_o pet._n 1._o 4_o 5_o 6_o 7_o 8_o 9_o 10._o this_o be_v the_o ordinary_a method_n of_o the_o communication_n of_o all_o supply_n of_o grace_n to_o make_v we_o spiritual_o flourish_v and_o be_v fruitful_a namely_o that_o we_o be_v find_v in_o the_o diligent_a exercise_n of_o what_o we_o have_v receive_v god_n do_v sometime_o deal_v otherwise_o in_o a_o way_n of_o sovereignty_n and_o surprise_v man_n with_o heal_a grace_n in_o the_o midst_n of_o their_o decay_n and_o backslide_n as_o isaiah_n 57_o 17_o 18._o so_o have_v many_o a_o poor_a soul_n be_v deliver_v from_o go_v down_o into_o the_o pit_n the_o good_a 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thrive_a grow_a and_o flourish_v of_o the_o principle_n of_o spiritual_a life_n in_o we_o even_o in_o old_a age_n and_o until_o death_n but_o the_o grace_n promise_v unto_o this_o end_n will_v not_o befall_v we_o whilst_o we_o be_v asleep_a in_o spiritual_a sloth_n and_o security_n fervent_a prayer_n the_o exercise_n of_o all_o grace_n receive_v with_o watchfulness_n unto_o all_o holy_a duty_n be_v require_v hereunto_o 3._o god_n have_v secure_v the_o growth_n of_o this_o spiritual_a life_n by_o the_o provision_n of_o food_n for_o it_o whereby_o it_o may_v be_v strengthen_v and_o increase_v for_o life_n must_v be_v preserve_v by_o food_n and_o this_o in_o our_o case_n be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n with_o all_o other_o ordinance_n of_o divine_a worship_n which_o depend_v thereon_o 1_o pet._n 2._o 2_o 3._o whatever_o the_o state_n of_o this_o life_n be_v whether_o in_o its_o beginning_n it_o be_v progress_n its_o decay_n there_o be_v suitable_a nourishment_n provide_v for_o it_o in_o 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propose_v be_v that_o notwithall_o this_o provision_n for_o the_o growth_n of_o spiritual_a life_n in_o we_o believer_n especial_o in_o a_o long_a course_n of_o profession_n be_v subject_a to_o decay_n such_o as_o may_v cast_v they_o into_o great_a perplexity_n and_o endanger_v their_o eternal_a ruin_n and_o these_o spiritual_a decay_n be_v of_o two_o sort_n 1._o such_o as_o be_v gradual_a and_o universal_a in_o the_o loss_n of_o the_o vigour_n and_o life_n of_o grace_n both_o in_o its_o principle_n and_o in_o its_o exercise_n 2._o such_o as_o be_v occasion_v by_o surprisal_n into_o sin_n through_o the_o power_n of_o temptation_n i_o mean_v such_o sin_n as_o do_v waste_v the_o spiritual_a power_n of_o the_o soul_n and_o deprive_v it_o of_o all_o solid_a peace_n as_o for_o temporary_a believer_n give_v they_o but_o time_n enough_o in_o this_o world_n especial_o if_o it_o be_v accompany_v with_o outward_a prosperity_n or_o persecution_n and_o for_o the_o most_o part_n their_o decay_n of_o one_o sort_n or_o another_o will_v make_v a_o discovery_n of_o their_o hypocrisy_n though_o they_o retain_v a_o form_n of_o godliness_n they_o deny_v the_o power_n of_o it_o prov._n 1._o 31._o and_o if_o they_o do_v not_o open_o relinquish_v all_o duty_n of_o religion_n yet_o they_o will_v grow_v so_o lifeless_a and_o favourless_a in_o they_o as_o shall_v evidence_n their_o condition_n for_o so_o it_o be_v with_o they_o who_o be_v lukewarm_a who_o be_v neither_o hot_a nor_o cold_a who_o have_v a_o name_n to_o live_v but_o be_v dead_a and_o herein_o lie_v a_o signal_n difference_n in_o this_o matter_n between_o sincere_a believer_n and_o those_o who_o believe_v only_o for_o a_o time_n for_o those_o of_o the_o latter_a sort_n do_v either_o not_o perceive_v their_o sickness_n and_o decay_n their_o mind_n be_v take_v up_o and_o possess_v with_o