Let us know, that we onght every day to labour to be more and more rooted. Do we know what times may befall us ? We have need to grow every day, to grow upwai'd, and in breadth and in depth. K we considered what times we may hve to, it should force us to gi-ow every way, especially in humility, that root and mother of graces, to gi'ow downward in that ; to grow in knowledge and faith, until we be fiUed with the falness of God.
Obj. A poor Christian ofttimes makes this objection. Oh! I do not grow! Therefore I fear my state ; I am oft shaken ! Therefore this promise is not fulfilled to me !
Alls. To this I answer, Christians may be deceived ; for they do grow ofttimes in fu-mness, sti-cngth, and stability, though they do not spread out. They may gi'ow in refinedness, that that which comes from them may be more pure, and less mixed with natural corruption, pride, self-love, and the like. This is a temptation that old men are subject to especially, in whom the heat of nature decays, who think withal that grace decays. But it is not so ; for ofttimes when grace is earned with the heat of nature, it makes a greater show, being helped by nature. The demonstration, but not the tiTith, of grace is thus helped. Therefore this clause of the pro- mise is made good in old Chiistians. They are eveiy day more and more rooted, finn, stable, and judicious, and more able in those graces which belong to their place and condition. Therefore they should not be dis- couraged though they be not earned with the stream and tide of nature, helped with that vigom' that sometime was in them. They gi'ow in judi- ciousness, mortifiedness, in heavenly-mindedness, and in ability to give good counsel to others. This is well, for we grow not in grace one way, but divers ways ; not only when we grow in outwai'd demonstration, and in many fruits and actions, but when we grow in refinedness and judicious- ness, as was said, then we are said to grow likewise. , Yet notwithstanding it should be the endeavour of all to grow what they
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can in grace. When, if they grow not so fast as others, let them know that there are several ages in Christ. A young Christian cannot be so planted and so deeply rooted as another that is of a greater standing. This should not discom-age any, seeing there are ' babes in Christ,' 1 Cor. iii. 1, as well as 'strong men,' Rom. xv. 1. Therefore where there is truth of heart, with endeavour to grow better and better, and to use all means, let no man be discouraged. Eemember alway this for a truth, that we may gi'ow, and we ought to gi'ow, and the children of God ordinarily have gro-\Mi more and more, both in fruitfulness and stedfastness every way, but not with a like growth in measure or time. Therefore labour to make use of these pro- mises, and not to favoui* ourselves in an ungrowing estate, for grace is of a growing nature. If it gi-ow not in fruitfulness, yet it grows in the root; as a plant sometimes grows in fruitfulness, sometimes in the root. There is more virtue in winter time in the root than in the fruit which is gone. So a Christian groweth one way if not another ; though not in outward demon- stration, yet in humihation. God sometimes sees it necessary that our branches should not spread for a while, but that we should grow in humility ; by some faults and sins we fall and sHp into, that we may see our own weakness and look up.
Let us labour therefore, who have so long enjoyed such store of blessed means, under the dew of God's grace and the influence of his Spirit, in the paradise of God, his house and church. Having so long lived in this Eden, let us labour now to spread and gi-ow in fruitfulness, that so we may be filled with the fulness of God. It is the chief thing of all, to be rooted and grow in grace. You see, God when he would single out a blessing, he tells them not that they shall grow rich, that they shall spread out and grow rich in the world. No ! But, you whom I love freely, take this as a fniit of it, ' you shall grow as the lily,' you shall gi'ow fi-uitful ' as the oHve,' &c. This is the comfort of a Christian. Though he gi'ows downward oft in the world, and things of this natural life, yet he grows upward in another con- dition : as liHes and cedars, they grow downwards one way, but they grow upwards another. Perhaps they may decay in their state and favour, and in their practice and cunning in this life ; but a Christian, if he be in the use of right means, and put in suit the gracious promises, he is sure still to grow in grace, in faith, in love, and in the inner man.
Is not this a comfort, that a Chiistian hath a comfortable meditation of the time to come in all his crosses '? that it is for better and better stiU ; that as in time he is nearer heaven, so he shall be fitter and fitter, and nearer and nearer stiU, with a disposition suitable to the place ; that the time to come is the best time ; and that he shall grow every way, in height, in breadth, in depth and length, and apprehension of God's love, and that the more he grows in knowledge of these things, the more he shall gi'ow in all dimensions, being as sure of things to come as of things past, and that neither things present nor to come shall ever separate him fi'om the love of God in Christ ? Rom. viii. 35. What a comfortable state is a Christian in, who is always on the mending hand, that is such a child of hope, when the hope of the wicked shall perish ! Let us laboui*, therefore, that we may be in such a case and state of soul as that thoughts of the time to come may be comfortable, that when we think we must be transplanted hence out of the paradise and Eden of God's church into a heavenly paradise, that all our changes shall be for the better. TNTiat a fearful thing is it to be in the state of nature ! What foundation hath a man in that estate, who hath no root here, and that root he hath will fail him ere long ? How feai-ful is