Sign 3. Wlicn we are less troubled abonf sin. Time Avas Avhen the least siu did grieA'e us, as the leiust hair makes the eye weep: but now Ave can digest sin without
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remorse. Time was when a Christian was troubled if he neglected closet-prayer : now he can omit family-prayer. Time was when vain thoughts did trouble him : now he is not troubled for loose practices. Here is a sad declension in religion ; and truly grace is so far from growing, that we can hardly perceive its pulse to beat.
2dly, The signs of our growing in grace.
Sign 1. The first sign of our growing is when we are got beyond oiir former mea- sures of grace : a sign a child thrives, when he hath outgrown his clothes, his clothes are too little for him. That knowledge which would serve us before, will not serve us now, — we have a deeper insight into re- ligion,— our light is clearer, — our spark of love is increased into a flame : there is a sign of growth. That competency of grace we once had, is too scanty for us; we have outgrown ourselves.
Sign 2. When we are more firmly rooted in religion, Col. ii. 7., Rooted in him, and established : the spreading of the root shews the growth of the tree. When we are so strongly fastened on Christ, that we cannot be blown down with the breath of heretics, a blessed sign of growth. Athanasius was called Adainus ecclesice, an adamant that could not be removed from the love of the truth.
Sign 3. The third sign of growth : when we have a more spiritual frame of heart. \st. We are more spiritual in our princi- ples ; we oppose sin out of love to God, and as it strikes at his holiness. 2dli/, We are more spiritual in our affections ; we gi'ieve for the first rising of corruption, for the bubbling up of vain thoughts, the spring that runs under ground. We mourn not only for the penalty of sin, but the pollu- tion ; it is not only a coal that burns, but blacks. 3dlg, We are spiritual in the per- formance of duty; we are more serious, reverent, fervent; we have more life in prayer, we put fire to the sacrifice, Rom. xii., " Fervent in spirit." We serve God with more love, which ripens and mellows our duty, and makes it come off with a bet- ter relish.
Sign 4. The fourth sign of growth : when grace gets ground by opposition. The fire, by an antiperitasis, burns nottest in the
coldest season. Peter's courage increased by the opposition of the higli priest and tlie rulers, Acts iv. 8, 11. The martyrs' zeal was increased by persecution. Here was grace of the first magnitude.
Quest. 6. fVhat shall we do (o grow in grace f
Ann. 1. Take heed of that which will hinder its growth, — the love of any sin. The body may as well thrive in a fever, as grace can where any sin is chcrislied.
A. 2. Use all means for growth in grace, l.s^, " Exercise yourselves to godliness," 1 Tim. iv. 7. The body grows stronger by exercise. Trading of money makes men grow rich ; the more we trade our faith in the promises, the richer in faith we grow. 2dly, If you would be growing Christians, be humble Christians. It is observed in some countries, (as in France.) the best and largest grapes, which they make their wine of, grow on the lower sort of atucs; the humble saints grow most in grace, 1 Pet. V. 5., '• God giveth grace to the humble " "idly, Pray to God for sjnritual growth. Some pray that they may grow in gifts. It is better to grow in grace than gifts ; gifts are for ornament, grace is for nourishment, — to edify others, to save our- selves. Some pray that they may grow rich, but a fruitful heart is better than a full purse. Pray that God would make you grow in grace, though it be by afflic- tion, Heb. xii. 10. The vine grows by pruning. God's pruning-knife is to make us grow more in grace.
Quest. 7. How may we comfort such as complain they do not grow in grace ?
Ans. They may mistake ; they may grow, when they think they do not, Prov. xiii. 7., " There is that maketh liimself poor, yet he is rich." The sight Christians have of their defects in grace, and their thirst after greater measures of grace, makes them think they do not grow when they do. He who covets a great estate, because lie hath not so much as he desires, therefore he thinks himself to be poor. Indeed Christians should seek after the grace they want, but they must not therefore overlook the grace they have. Let Christians he thankfid for the least growth ; if von do not grow so much in assurance, hh'sv ftod \[' you grow
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OF PERSEVERANCE.
in sincerity ; if you do not grow so much in know' edge, bless God if you grow in humility. If a tree grows in the root, it is
a true growth ; if you grow in the root- grace of humility, it is as needful for you as any other growth.
OF PERSEVERANCE. 1 Pet. i. 5. JVho are kept hy the power of God through faith unto salvation.