Goodwin - BV4500 G66 1650

The Tryall of ends are raifed more to aime at God, and to fanLtifie him more, and todebafe your (elves in a fenfe ofyour owne vilerieffe, and emptineffe, and unability ; and when your obedience proceeds more out ofthankfulneflè, and leffe out of the conítraint of con- fcience. As the greaten growth of wicked men is in fpirituall wickedneffe, (in which the Pharifees grew, and fritters again(' the holy Ghoít doe grow, whenyet it may be they leave more groffe evils) fo the greateft growth of grace is in fpirituall holineffe, in fanc`tifying God much in the heart, andWorfhipping him in fj:irit and truth. 4. Trjall. Fourthly, when a man grows more rooted into Chrift, that is the truegrowth ; and that which makes the fruit to be more in Gods fight and eneeme : therefore Eph. 4. i 5. we are laid to grow up in him ; that is, to live the life we lead, more out ofour íèlves and in Chrift : as when for the acceptation of our perlons weare emptied ofour owne righteoufneffe; fo for ftrength to performe duties, we are emptied of our abilities, feting without hintWe can doe nothing Sowhen for acceptation of our perfor- mances when we have done them, our hearts have learnt habitu- ally to fay more and more with the Apofile, .Not I, but Chrifl in me; when we intereft Chrift more and more in all we doe, as the efficient and allo the finali caufe. And therefore I óbferve whengrowth ofgrace is mentioned, it is fill expreffed by grow. ing in the knowledge of Chrifl : So a Pet. 3. 17 . Grow in grace, and in the ,knowledge ofChrifl ; as if to grow in grace without him, were nothing, as indeed it is not. So in the Ephefans we arePaid both to growup in him, and for him. Philofophers did grow in morali vertues, but not in Chrift ; fo doeCivili menand others ; Temporaries doe duties from him, but yet as in them- felves; as the Ivie that hath lap from the Oake, but concocts it in its owne roote, and fo brings forth as from it felfe. To doe oneduty, fanctifyingChrift and free grace in the heart, is more then a thoufand : young Chrifians, it may be, doe more works, but not as works ofgrace : and the more men think by duties toget Chrift, and Gods favour, the more in duties they truft, and fo they become as works ofthe Law ; but the more dead a man grows to the Law ; and to live toChrift, and Chrift in him ; and the more free grace is acknowledged in all, milled in above all;

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=