a Chri. f ians Growth. other fide : therefore he addes, that every member bath its mea= fare. The hand grows according to the proportion of a hand, and fo the reft;and fo in the 13.ver. he hath it,that there is a mea- faare of the f ature ofthefulneffe-of Chrif,that everyone attains to. The fecond reafon is taken fromGod the Father. Who firff hath appointed, as who (hall be members, fo allo what growth each of thefe members fhali attaine to : therefore it is called an increafzng with the increafe ofGod, Col. a. 19. Other parents appoint not what ffature their children (hall attaine to, but the Lord doth, that when they meet in heaven, there may be a proportion in the body : as all Chriffsmembers were written in Gods book, fo the growth of them alto. Secondly, he bath promifed that they (hall grow : therefore it is faid, Aral. 92. They fhuzll bringforthfruit in their age, to /hew the Lord isfaithfull, which refpeCeth his promife ; for faithful- neffe is the fulfilling a promife. Thirdly, God theFather bath accordingly appointed meanes to that end, principally that they might grow. As firC, Eph. 4. it is faid, he hash given gifts unto men, not that they may be converted only, but alto to build them upfor the edifyingof the body ofChrifi : he fpeaks as if that were one maine end. Therefore the Word is not onely compared to feed, that begets men, but to milke allo, that fo babes maygro' ', and to firong meat, that men maygrow, and thus that all forts of Chríffi- ans may grow. So allo Sacraments,their principali end is growth, and not to convert, but to encreafe ; as meat puts not life in, but is ordained for growth, where life is already. 2. He gives his Spirit,which works growth in the hearts ofhis people ; and by him they have a nutritive power conveyedfrom Chrift : For it might be faid, though there be never fo muchnoth . rifhment, if theyhave no power to conco1 it, (fill they cannon grow;therefore the Apoffle fays,that there is an effectual)working to the meafure ofevery part, eph.4.16. the fame power working in us, which raifed up Jefus Chaff fromdeath to life,Eph.r.19. The laff reafon is taken from the Saints themfelves;, they could not otherwife enter into heaven ; which I take from that place, Except ye be converted, and become as little children,. ,ye cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven. He fpeaks this to his Fifciplesa Real 2. From God the Fathers ap- pointment. Real: 3. From the Saints them (elves.
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