a Chriflians Growth. IT grow in the waffle of the wildernef e among Heathens, which ingenuity and modeay, and natural] honed)/ and naturali con- fcience do bring forth : but not any Inch, as an inward lap from Chrifl ufeth to produce. Civil] men are not true branches ; for look on Chrift the root, and fee what fruits aboulded in him molt, as fruits of holinefle did ; and therefore if finch were true branches, the fame would abound in them likewifc : for every tree bringsforth according to its kind. a. You have form (they living in the Church) Chrift begins to (hoot tome fap of his Spirit into their hearts, quickning them with many good motions, and furring up force juiceneflz of affeftions in the adminif}ration of the Word and Sacraments, which caufes them to bud forth into good inward purpofes, and outward good beginnings : but this being not the communica- tion of the Spirit, as lanai: ying and changing the branch into the fame nature with the root, therefore it comes to pal e they are ftill nips in the bud, as the fiony ground was, and the fap ftricken in again, like rash ripe fruit; which looking forth upon a February Sun, are nipt againe with an April froft. Many, when young, and their affections are green and tender, are wrought upon, and bud, but the fcoffes of men nip them, and their hiss draw the lap another way, as hopes of preferment, and the pleafures of finne, and fo thefe buds wither and fall off, and the Spirit withdrawes himfeif wholly in the root a- gaine. Againe, ;. force there are, as the thorny ground, in whom this inward lap communicated to them, though not fpiritually, changing and renewing them, yet being communicated in a fur- ther degree, abides in them longer, (hoots up farther, and thefe prove exceeding green branches, and are owned for true, even by the people ofGod themfelves, as 7udai was by the Apofties, and therefore are outwardly like unto them ; for how elfe are they Paid to be call out ? ver.16. who therefore had once forne fruit to commend them, for which they were accountedof by the people of God, and received amongst them , who judge of treesby thefruit. Neither are their fruits meerly outward, like Solomons apples ofgold,in pi1ures o ffilver,meerly painted.but they have a fap that puts a greenneffe into what they doe, and by reaf;n
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