4 Chriftians Growth. eeffe towards others in theexercife of thofe gifts (though that be calledfruit alto : fo Ter. 17. 1o. they are called thefruitofour doing : there are our doings, and the fruits ofour doings ; that is, the fucceffe which our examples, or gifts, or graces, have upon others ; -and fo the converfion of the fouls of men by the A- pohle is called by Chrih theirfruit., john' 5. i6.) yet limply by this we are not to reckon our growth : for in fucceífe and exer- cife of gifts, a man may decreafe when he grooves older, and fo fee leflé fruit of his labours them formerly, or haply he may be laid afide ; fo (ayes the Bapt;f} of himfelf, 1 muff decreafe, ?ohn 3.30. )ohn, whenChrih came to preach, had leffe commings in : And in this refpe&, old Chritians, and ancient Minifters, may decreafe, and young ones increafe, and yet they decay not in grace ; for there are Cods workes in au, and Cods workes with us Now Gods Werk with us in doing good toothers, may be Iv. fl'e, when yet his workes inus may be more : for as there are diverfi- ties of gifts, fo ofoperation!, i Cor. 12. The holy Ghofi may ule one of leffe grace to doe more good then one of more, though herein this caution is to be added, that he delights ufually to ho- nour thofe ofmoll fincerity, with molt fuccefl'e; as in that emi- nent Apohle, 'Paul, the grace of God was more in him, and fo- wrought more with him in doing much good to others, 1 Cor. 15. io. and God alto will reward according to the fruit of our do. ings, as 7er.17.1o. whenour delires are enlarged todoe much good, and we intended and aimed todoe that good which is done : there it is added there, in that Ter. v . Whole heart thou knowefl. When he fees the heart clearly enlarged to doe much good, then the fruit that is done is reckoned him as his ; other- wife what ever it be he doth by us, he will reward but according to our worker, as concurrent with his. So 'Con 3.8. the Apoftle upon this occafion intimates, that feeing it is God thatgives the iicreafe, he fayes, that God Will rewardmen according to their [own labours ;] not fimply according to his workes by them : as if God doth not goe forth with a Miniher, whofe heart is much let to doe good, and to convert foules, to doe fo much good by him as with another, who is in his own fpirit leffe zealous ;. yet if his heart was large in delires, and his endeavours great todoe good, God will reckon more fruit to him then to ano- G 3 ther 49
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