4 Chriftians Growth. 39 rabic, but of all trees the talleft, and (hoots up the higheft. But yet thirdly, fuppofe the new creature be kept under, and oppreffed with tentations and oppositions, yet to thew that Rill it will grow and flourish again : thereforehe further compareth them to a Palme tree, which ufeth to grow; the more weight is hungupon it, and fprouts again, even when it is cut downe to the roots. Fourthly, to Phew that they grow with all kinds ofgrowth : therfore the Prophet expreffeth their growth bothby the fpread- ingof their root, and altoof the branches, and fo in a growth both upward and downward, He(ball caftforth his rooter as Le- banon : that is, grow inwardly in habituall grace in the heart, and thenoutwardly spreadforth their branches,and fo grow in the outward profeflionof Gods wayes and truth, and externall ho. lineffe in their lives. . Neither fifthly, is it a growth meerly in 6ulk,, but alto infruit- fulneffe, and therefore he compares them to the Olive and the Vine, (fo in that place of Hofea) which are of all trees the fruitfulleft, and molt ufefall to God and man,yudg.9.9,z3. But yet fixtly, trees have a flourifhing time of it but for tome while, during which, although they may be thus green and fruit- full, yet in their age they wither and rot, and their leaves fall off, and their fruit decayes : The holy Ghoft therefore as pre- venting this exception to fall out in the Saints growth, he addes, Pfa1.92. They bringforthfruit(till in their old age: Wheñ nature begins todecay, yet grace renewes its ftrength ; which if it be wondred at, and howgrace should grow andmultiply, the foile of our hearts being a ftepmother to ir, Promme, (ayes Chrift, is thy fruitfounder. 8. of that t4. of Hofea. It if Godthat gives this increafe, andIwill be as the dew to Ifrael, ver.5 . The reafons why Chriftians doe thus.grow, aredrawn Firft, from Chrift his being our Head, andwe his members. Reaf r: Nowalthough clothes though never fo gorgeous, grow not, yet Drawne froni members doe. This fimilitude the Apoftleufeth in two places, Chrifts being to exprefl°ethe growth ofthe Saints, Ephef4. r 5, i 6. and Col.2.19. our head. where he faith, Chrifi isa head, fromWhom the whole bodygrows up to him in al/ things. Now the consequence of this reason will many wayes appear, F2 Firft,
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