Goodwin - BV4500 G66 1650

a Cbrifiians Growth. all ; the more Evangelical! our works are, and the more to God, (for that is the end of the Gofpell, to honour Chrift and free grace) the more we grow. We areofthe C'ircumcifion, layes the Apoftle, who rojoyce in the Lord refus, Worfhip Cod in the /ÿirit, and have no confidence in the flefli, `Phil. 4. As thefe are the iiareft figns of truegrace, fo of true Growth. Fifthly, the more we learne to bring forth fruits ánfeafon, the 5, Try,all. morefruit we may be faid to bring forth : For the feafonable per- formanceof them makes them more. All the fruits in their fea- fon, how acceptable are they ? which out of feafon, they are not. In the firfl Pfalme a righteous man is Paid to bring forth húfruits in duefeafon : and in the Proverbs, Words infeafon are a apples of gold andpitiures cffiver. In Ezek 41. they are faid to bringforth pleafantfruits in their,moneths ; as in reproving he is not fo much to reprove, as to reprove in feafon ; to have our fenfes exercifed toknow fit feafons, and to confider one another toprovoke to kw, as it is Het,. io. Young Chriftians doe more, but more out of feafon, and the devil! abufeth them, putting them upon dutks, when they woúld be at their refrefhings, at their callings; he deceiving themwith this, that holy duties in themfelves as alone fimply compared, are better then to doe any thingelfe ; when as the feafonadds the goodneffe to our anions : Thus to recreate thy felt at force feafons is better then to be a praying. A righteous man orders his converfation aright, Pfal. 5o. and order gives a renitude, a goodneffe to things. Sixthly, when we grow more confiant in performances, and 6. Tryall. more even in a godly courfe, and titled in fpirituall affe&ions without intermillion, it is a ligne we grow. It argues that our in- wardman úmore renewed day by day, when we can walke clofely withGod a longwhile together. A righteous man is compared to the Palme tree, whole leafe neverfades, Pfad. T. whereas other trees bring forthby fits : And by fits to be much induties, is not a fine ofgrowth, but weakneffe ; it is out of inordinacie and offuch a frame are youngChriflians hearts, like new lute firings, which when they are wound up high, are (till a falling ever and anon ; whereas ftrings felled long on an infirument, will nand long, andnot flip downe. Seventhly, a man may be faid to grow and bringforth more 7. Trjat, fruir,

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