3. Growth in grace is always accompanied with growth in know- ledge: 2 Peter iii. 18, ' But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,' &c. Plants that grow out of the sun send up a longer stalk, but the fruit is worse. Some Christians pitch all their care upon the growth of love, and take no pains to grow in knowledge ; but this is not right ; we should always ' follow on to know the Lord,' Hosea vi. 3. AVe read that Christ ' grew in know- ledge ;' we do not read that he grew in grace. God's choicest saints are always bettering their notions of God. Moses, his first request w^as, ' Tell me thy name,' Exod. iv., and afterwards, ' show me thy glory,' Exod. xxxiii. Our fairest portion in heaven is the satisfaction of the understanding with the knowledge of God: therefore if we would have grace multiplied, it must be ' through the knowledge of God,' 2 Peter i. 2 ; the more shine, the more warmth.
4. Growth of knowledge in the growing and increase is less sensible than the growth of grace, but afterward more sensible. As a plant increaseth in length and stature, though we do not see the progress, but afterwards we know that it hath grown, growth in grace is always cum lucta, with many assaults, and so more sensible, whereas the work upon the understanding is more still and silent ; draw away the cur- tain, and the light cometh in without any more stir ; our ignorance vanisheth silently, and without such strife as goeth to the taming of carnal affections : but afterwards it is more sensible, for we have not always a spiritual feeling, but the effects of knowledge are standing and permanent : Eph. v. 8, ' Ye were darkness, but now are light in the Lord.'
5. Progress in knowledge is rather in degrees than in parts and matters known : I mean, it consisteth not so much in knowing new truths, as in a greater proportion of light ; yet I say it is rather, not altogether, for a man may walk in present practices which future light
^ ' Ascendendo, non volando, ascenditur summitas scalse.' — Bernard.
VeR. 2.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JDDE. 91
may disprove and retract ; but usually the increase of a Christian is rather in the measure of knowledge than in knowing new things;
* the light shineth more and more/ Prov. iv. I know God more, Christ more, the vanity of the world more, the odiousness of sin more, that is, more practically and in another manner than I did before ; old principles are improved and perfected. I speak this because of the danger to which men expose themselves by expecting new light, keeping the soul from an establishment in present principles, and looking for new truths to be revealed to them.
6. Of all graces we need most to grow in faith : 1 Thes. iii. 10,
* I desire to see you, that I may perfect that which is lacking in your faith ; ' Luke xvii. 5, ' Lord, increase our faith ;' and Mark ix. 24, ' Lord, I believe ; help my unbelief.' Faith is most defective ; our assent is tremulous ; our affiance weak, and faith is most assaulted. All the temptations of Satan tend to weaken your faith, and all other graces depend upon the increase of faith.
7. Growth in parts and gifts must heedfuUy be distinguished from growth in grace. Many may grow in parts that go back in grace ; you can only discern a mere growth in parts and gifts by pride and self ends : ' Knowledge puffeth up,' 1 Cor. viii. 1. When men grow in abilities, and grow more proud and carnal, it is a sad symptom.
8. The infallible signs of growth in grace are three — when we grow more spiritual, more solid, more humble. •
[1.] More spiritual. The growth of wicked men in spiritual wickedness is less debauched, but more malicious ; so will our growth in grace be discerned by our spirituality in our aims, when our ends are more elevated to God's glory, &c. In our grounds and principles ; as when we resist sin out of love to God, and as it is contrary to our purity and holiness, and when we are carried out against inward corruptions, such as the world doth not take notice of ; not only against sins, but lusts and thoughts, for that argueth more light and more love. So when we regard the spirituality of duties, ' serving the Lord in the spirit.' So when we relish the more spiritual part of the word, plain and solid preaching, rather than such as is garish and full of the pomp of words : 1 Cor. ii. 6, ' We speak wisdom among those that are per- fect ; ' the trappings of an ordinance are baits to take the more carnal sort of hearers. Plutarch, in his treatise of growth in moral virtue,! wherein are many notable things applicable to growth in grace, saith that a man that hath made some progress in virtue is like a physician, that, coming into a garden, he doth not consider flowers for their beauty, as gallants do, but for their use and virtue in medicine. So he doth not consider speech for its fineness, but fitness and seasonable- ness to present use. The same holdeth good also in growth in grace ; the more we grow, the more we regard the spiritual part of the word, and such as is of a practical use and concernment.