a Chriftians Growth. the heart, that there it noGod,&c. ofwhich the Scriptures fpeak fo much) they are the principles that ad and work all in men that are wicked and carnali, and are the encouragers and counfellers to all the fins committed by them,andyet they are lean ofall dif- cerned by them, of all other corruptions,for they are feldomeor never drawn forth into diftinFít propofitions, or acftually thought upon ; but doe lie as common principles taken for granted, and fo do guide men in their wayes. And thus it is and may be long with fame ache contrary principlesof faith, they may ad all fecretly in the heart , and yet not be difcerned ; until! called forthby the miniftery of the Word, or fomediftind informati- on, when it comes more di[tinUly to clear fuch a prat ce to them. Neither 3. is union with Chrift prefently cleared up to all be leevers ; which whilft it is darkly and doubtfully apprehended by them, Chrifts cimmunication ofhis grace and [trength to them in every atcion, remains doubtfull alfo, and is not difcerned by them Of thefe Difciples Chrift (ayes, yohn 14.20. That in that day (namely, when they received the Comforter more fully, of the promifeof whom he there fpeaks) they fhould k,noro that they Were in him, and he in them : But not fo clearly was this asyet appre- hended by them ; and fo likewife that intercourfe betwixt Chrift and them, both for grace and comfort, &c. was not fo clearly difcerned by them, thoughcontinually maintained by him in di- fpenfing all grace and power to them.. And yet 4. in the mean while take the loweft and pooreft beleever, and he doth thefe five things, which put together, is realty and interpretatively a bringing forth their fruit in Chrifl, though not in their apprehenfions. i. In that their hearts are trained up in .a continual! fenfiblenes of their own infufficiencie and inability for any good thought or word, as of themfelves ; for poverty of jJiirit, to fee their own nothingnefe,in this refpeet is the firtt Evangelical! grace,Mat.5.i. and if the contrary would arife in them, to think through habltu, all grace alone received, theywere able of themfelves to doe good, it is checked Toone, and confuted by their owne expe- rince, bothof their owne weaknefi'e, being lure to be [eft to themfelves, (as Peter was) when confident to his own ftrength ; as Union with Chrift is not cleared up to all in Chrift. Yet every B_ laver cloth five things which are real ly to "bring forth fruit in Chrift.
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