556 ThePromifeofthe sp:rit, ofwalking S a c T. XL fometimes, efpecially under calamities and fears,flep into the wayesofGodlinefss they doe tome godlyand righteous things : but this is not their way, its not their cufoìne : So that its not the baredoing holy and righteous setions: but are thefe thy way? dolt thou walk in thefe ? Is it notby meer accident, force fuddain crea- tion ; as a contrary wind fometimes driveth in the paffenger to another Port then heexpeftedor di fired. 4 Fourthly, Tosealk, ivplyethprogreffeandincreafeingodliaere. To walk isa pro- greffive mhtion,andevery flee a man rakes hegaineth more ground, and isnearer tohis journeys end; and thus it is in godlineffe. The Convei red man,hegaineth, he groweth , he isnearer the topof the hill than he was, Thus Faalyoumay fee him not onely walking, but even running dlróao,, I pre&hardafter, I forget the things that are behinde. Oh this is a neceffarie point : for who attends to growth in Grace ? Toget more of this trea(ure, though the Scripturedoth fo often preffe ir. The old rule is, Nonprogredi, eft regredi ; Not to go forward, is to go back- ward. Yet howmany areat a (land, yea decay and abate in former graces I Is this to walk in the wayesof God? likeHetekiak',, Sun, thouarc gone tomany de- grees backward. Intowhat a Confumption are thou fallen ? Whowould take thee tobe the fame thouwert once ? Every duty and grace is fo withered, that as Da- vid laid of hisbody, Thy bones tandoatthroaghLeanne jfe. It may be indeed e- ven a Converted mans condition, not to walk on forward, but tofall backward, and be many degrees (boreof what othersare, who let out at the fame time with hìm,but then they recoveragain to their great advantage. As Children after a , difeafebath pulled them down, when theyrecover,they [hoot out higher. As [tum- bling maltesa man get more ground, fo that even in their verse fins, though they be extra [emirates, yet not extra Dian; for the,graceof God recovering them will make thisvery lettinga whetting to them, andbe more zealous and aetive,byhow much they havebeennegligent. Howfoever therefore theremay beaccidental ob- ftruftions,and checks tagraee in itswalk:yet the Nature and inclinationofGodli- nefs is tobe always carrying us on to furtherperfeftion This walking is Rill nearer and nearer toour journeysend : Faith is increafed, Love and heavenly-mindednefs are morepromoted. Remember therefore, thou art a Traveller,. thy godlineffe is awalking; lit not down, and fay, Soulrakeny cafe, for thou haft grace enough, godlineffe enough : This is an Argument thou haft noneat all. When Laodirea laid, Shewar fail, andrich, andwastednothing, then fhe was poor and miferable, and wanted all things, Rev. 3. eslpelles when he had drawn his line, would write facie6aa, in the imperfec Tcnfe, and not fecit; to Chew that(till hedid intend to perfeft, tocomplete it; Rill fomething is wanting; and this may bewritten upon all our graces, Credebat,not credidit, ama6.at, not amavu, There is Lome imperfe- aion, yea many defefts which are conftantly to beamended. I earnelly delire this truthmight be fanned upon thegodly. They arenot in growingpoflures : they come not and fay, Lord this Talent offive bathgained ten; they faynor, Thismu- Rard-feed ii grown up into a great tree; they (peakas a child in graces and not as perfeft men. S, Fiftly, As towalk implyethPrager"e, foitfufpofeth that in thulife we cannever attain toaperiod, to Si {au ref?; all is walkinghere in this life, inheaven there isreif, thenwe are let in our Thrones after viftorie and "conquef over our hits, and the world. As God in theold TcRament fdt had his Tabernacle, which wasnot fix- ed, but ambulatorie, removed from place to place; and afterwards his Temple, a placeof reR,where his people were to fit down and enjoy God: fo it iswith his Children in theNew Teftament, they are ina Tabernacle here, their Temple is inheaven : This shouldcomfort thepeople of God,as the former might provoke and inflame them; they havenot inch maflerie over their hearts as they defrre, they are in continual) éombateand confld , theyare exceeding (horsof chofe excellent graces propounded to them ; let not thisdifmay them, theydoebut walk as yet in the way of godlineffe, they arc nor come co their journeys end, they are not
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