The 7ryall of ruptions more. It falls out fometimes that when men are young Chriflians, andnew borne, God adds muchaflitlance, and this for their encouragement ; and as you carry young children in your armes, and fo they are kept from faits more then fome more elderly that are let goe alone. Thus Hof. i i. 3. God takes them by the armes when a child, ver. i . hit then they acknowledge it not, as it follows there, and are apt to think that that flrength and life they have, is from themfelves, and fo God afterwards haves them, when grown men more elderly. Thofe Chriftians whowalk molt fenfibly of their owne weaknefí'e, and obferve God his keeping them from fin, and attribute this to him, Inch God delights to help, though for the prefent they have leiTe ha- bituall grace : And fo thofe Chriflians that fooner come to the knowledgeof that way ofdependance upon Chrift, ( force come to fee it the fir(l day, and make ufc of it ; others not fo clearely a long while) they (hall be more aflifted then another. To many that way fo foone is not fo clearly opened. Again, fecondly, fometimes God will magnifie this his aE7ing grace, (as I may call it) more in one man then in another Peeing it is a grace. That one Apollle of the Gentiles, Paul, did r-irore then all the Apoftles, (hall we thereby infallibly conclude he had more inherent grace then they all ? but that he had more afli- !lance. 'As God fometimes ufeth men ofweaker gifts to doe more then men ofgreater, fo men of weaker graces, and lefhe growth, to fhame theother. As there are diverfitie.r ofgifts, foof operations and exercife of thofe gifts, i Cor. 12.6. the Spirit di- viding as hewill, ver. 11. God calls afide one of eminent gifts into a place or condition wherein they are not ufefuli, and fo he may one ofmuch habituall grace. Thirdly , he as often according to aSuall preparation ; the habituall preparation lies in habits, and is more remote; as firings may begood, yet out oftune, and fo not plaid upon. Againe, fourthly, God may leave a Chriflian of more grace and growth, to more furring of corruptions, in cafe he means yet to bring him to a higher pitch of humiliation, and that by fins. It isin this his dealing or leaving men to corruptions, and the vigorous corflbcls with them, as it is in his leaving his people fotne:times to thofe other evils of afit`lions. God humbleth his,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=