In the next place, loe should come to good food. When we have purged out the ill humours of our corruption, digest some comfortable truths, and that presently after we are humbled, lest Satan get advantages on us; therefore we should resort to the preaching of the word whiles we may. That study is accursed that takes up a man when he should be at God's ordinances ; and the good that is gotten at home, when we may go to church on the Sabbath, is as the water of cui'sing, because it is gotten in contempt of God's ordinances.
And what though, as many poor Christians object, we forget immediately many times what we hear, yet for the present it will strengthen our souls to walk more strongly after it ; as our meat doth when it is passed from us, yet the virtue thereof remaineth behind in us.
Thirdy, We should iise exercise of holy duties. We see men that are given to daily labour, how strong they are to bear burdens, and what stomachs they have to their meat ; and thus it is in those that are oft in prayer and meditation, how do they long after the word ! and how sweet is it to them ! and how do they treasure it up ! Contrarily those that use no exercise, let them boast as they please, they are full, and care not for the word; and are gi'aceless, however they may excel for civil* parts. If they come to church, or like of any of that breed, f it must be to their taste, or they will have none of it; gross meat their finer stomachs cannot digest. The preacher must be as a player upon a well-tuned instrument; and this sort of men are never good practitioners,^ but commonly given to vanity.
But let us take heed we do not lightly esteem of God's ordinance, but in reverence use all means for the strengthening of our faith by the word, sacraments, and prayer. We have but a short time to work. Our wages are in heaven ; and it should be a shame to us that we do no more work for so great a reward as we shall have. We should set no stay nor pitch in religion, but evermore pray and endeavour that God's kingdom may come, and that his will nsay be done on earth as it is in heaven. Be not dejected by the length of the way, nor the fierce serpents of this world. Take heed of returning into Egypt in our thoughts, but go on from grace to grace, and from one degree to another, till God shall call us to rest.
Quest. But doth a Christian perpetually grow ?
* That is, ' moral and intellectual.' — G. J That is, * putters into practice.' — G t Qu. ' bread ' ? and for ' like ' = take '? — G.
176 THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Ans. In answer, Not at all times in all parts. Trees we know, in winter time, grow in the root. Christians grow not always in all graces, but only in some one radical grace, as in faith, or humility, or the like. If there be any stop, it is to further his speediness afterwards, as we see in those that stumble in their course, and as water stopped, breaks out more out- rageously. Thus was it in ihe slips of David and Peter. And God's children, after such times, are as a broken bone : after it is set, it grows sti-onger in that part than in auy other.
Obj. But a man may say, I perceive not this growth.
A71S. To which I answer, AVe perceive not the corn grow, nor the shadow to move, yet in continuance of time we perceive the corn hath grown, and the shadow hath moved. So, though we perceive it not, yet every act of repentance and faith doth strengthen us. There may be many turhida intervalla, cloudy times in every Christian's life. David, a man after God's own heart, had many infirmities; and this may cloud a man's eyes that he may think he is going quite backward. But yet these should not hinder our faith in God's love ; for God calls not every slip in a man's life to reckoning. Any traveller may set his foot awry and may go out of his way, yet at length he gets home ; and God judges not of us by single acts, but by the tenor of our lives.
How then shall we know whether we are grown or not ?
1. I answer. Our growth may be discerned by these signs: first, if ice can taste and rclhh the food of our souls, the icord of God; for it is with the soul herein as with the body. If our meat be not loathsome to us, our stomach is good, and it is a sign of health ; so if we can hear the word of God with delight, and if it be not tedious to us, it is a sign of our Chris- tian growth.
2. Another sign is, if we find ourselves able to bear r/reat burdens of the infirmities of our brethren ; and thus did Christ long bear the infirmities of his weak disciples that followed him ; and the apostle, Gal. vi. 1, counts it the office of those that are strong, to restore such as are fallen with the Spirit of meekness.