The Wonderful Mystery of Spiritual Growth, Chapter 7
THE CONTENTS OF THE SEVENTH CHAPTER.
1. That God requires of vsus according to the Meanes hee giueth.
2. That the Grace of God ſhall be ſufficient for vsus.
3. That there are diuers Meaſures of Grace, and yet each hath that which is ſufficient.
4. That the power of God is ſeene in our weakeneſſe.
5. That the Spirit is a free worker in the Meaſure of our Growth.
6. That our enduring of Afflictions, much ſerueth hereto.
7. That Gods power muſt bee ſeene in our weakeneſſe.
8. That according to our callings, ſo our Meaſure of Grace muſt bee tried.
CHAP. 7. Of certaine Rules for the diſcerning and iudging the true ſcantling and Meaſure of our Growth.
THe firſt Rule for the Triall of the Meaſure of our Growth, is, That God requires of vsus according to the Meanes he vouchſafeth for our ſpirituall Growth.
That is,
To him that hath receiued much, much ſhall bee required at his hands, Luk. 12.47. To him that hath leſſe, God will require no more, Matth. 25.27, 28, &c.
The ground hereof is three-fold:
1 The Difference of the gifts of God in themſelues.
As firſt, that ſome are generall to all, both Elect and Reprobate: as thoſe which concerne the managing of their Perſonall and Publike Occaſions, for this life; as all Ciuill and Morall Gifts of Skill and Knowledge, concerning perſonable Diſpoſition, and common Trades, Vocations, and Sciences: And ſo ſuch Gifts of Wiſedome, Diligence, &c. for the better execution of eyther.
Secondly, ſome are ſpeciall, concercerning onelyonly the Elect, and theſe alſo are either generall to All, as ſimply neceſſarie to ſaluation, ſuch as Faith, LoueLove, Repentance, &c. or they are ſpeciall, reſpecting their ſeuerall Callings and limitted occaſions therein, which are neyther ſimply required in all, as Gifts of Tongues, Prophecying, &c. at leaſt not in all, in the like meaſure, and at all times; as Aſſurance of Faith, Ioy in the Holy Ghoſt, ſuffering conſtantly for the Truth, Gift of Miracles, &c.
2 The different Dispenſation of the Gifts of God, to ſeuerall perſons diuerſly, according to their Callings and Occaſions, as ſutable thereunto, Rom. 12.6, 7, 8. Epheſ. 4.6, 7, 8.
As firſt, not giuing all ſorts of Gifts vntounto any, but vntounto ſome one Gift, ſome another, as their Calling and vſe is; and yet none ſhall be deſtitute of any neceſſarie Grace to Saluation.
Secondly, nor giuing alike meaſure of the particular Gift vntounto All, at any time, but vntounto ſome more, and ſome leſſe, according to their ſeuerall Callings and Imployment in the Church, and Commonwealth.
Thirdly, no not giuing to any at the firſt, the full meaſure of his proper, no not of his common Gift, but to each in due ſeaſon, according to their capacitie, for them, and vſe of them in their ſeuerall Callings and Turnes, to aduance Gods power in their weakeneſſe.
A third ground herein is, the ſeuerall adminiſtration of theſe gifts, which being diuers, firſt, both according to the diuers meaſure, and occaſions thereof, ſecondly, as alſo to the different aſſiſtance of God, for the preſent therein, thirdly, or difference of oppoſition againſt the ſame.
From all theſe, ariſe many comfortable Rules for the Triall of the Meaſure of our Growth.
As firſt,
Though the first kind of Gifts are common to all ſorts, yet ſeeing alſo they are beſtowed vponupon the Elect, 1. King. 5.6.therefore hereby alſo may wee diſcerne the Meaſure of our spirituall Growth.
1. That as wee receiue theſe common gifts by our right in Chriſt, ſo wee dayly improue and renew our right in Chriſt, by the holy vſe of them; ſanctifying them vntounto our ſelues by the Word and Prayer, as warranting thereto, and enabling therein, and ſanctifying vsus vntounto them, by renewing our Repentance, and Couenant with our God in the Bloud of Chriſt, that ſo iuſtifying hereby our right in them, wee may both firſt improue them faithfully, in the right manner, and true ends thereof, ſecondly, wait patiently vponupon our God in the iſſues of the ſame, and thirdly, reape comfort and benefit by whatſoeuer ſucceſſe; that if it ſpeed not, according to our endeuour, wee may yet hauehave comfort in the truth of our labor, and much more comfort, that theſe are not the maine: and ſo it may be good for vsus to be diſappointed in theſe, that wee may make ſure of better euidences, and bee more faithfull in the best gifts. And if our ſucceſſe bee anſwerable to our endeuour, herein alſo wee may hauehave comfort of the ſpeciall bleſſing, in the common; that if it goe well with vsus in theſe inferiour, much more then in the principall, as laying vp a good foundation by them againſt the day of Chriſt, 1. Tim. 6.19.
Thus by the improuing men of theſe common and inferiour gifts, and different ſucceſſe thereof, may we wiſely diſcerne the meaſure of our growing in grace, and graciouſly encreaſe in perfect holineſſe. As growing more in grace, the more wee are weaned from the louelove of theſe outward things, in the greateſt meaſure thereof: The more wee can bee abaſed in the vſe thereof, the more wee can improue them to the beſt ends: by how much the more our mindes are ſpirituall in theſe Earthly imployments, and more wiſely thereby fitted to ſpirituall gifts, and vſe of them; the more wee are contented in their wants and leaſt meaſure, and can with more patience ſubmit to the will of our God, both for the Meaſure and Iſſue thereof.
Thus euen by theſe meaneſt and common Gifts, may wee make triall of and improue the Meaſure of our Growth.
2. As alſo by the diuers diſpenſation of them.
As firſt, that none hath the fruition of eueryevery Gift; but according to the diuerſitie of Perſons, Callings, and Vſe, ſo each hath his ſeuerall Gift, though all are partakers of the common and ſpeciall Gifts, neceſſary to ſaluation.
And this ſerueth graciouſly both to trie the meaſure of our growth, and further therein.
And that firſt, ſeeing our wiſe and holy God ſo diſpenſeth his Gifts diuerſly, as that yet hee fits them graciouſly to each particular Calling and Occaſion: therefore if wee finde our ſelues ſorted with ſuch speciall gifts, as beſt agree with our Conſtitutions, Callings, and Occaſions in the Church and Common-weale; hereby wee may diſcerne the truth of Grace, and ſo gather, by our faithfull imployment thereof, an encreaſe therein.
And ſo ſecondly, though wee are not partakers of the like Gifts with others, which are diſpoſed to speciall vſes; yet if wee want not any neceſſarie Grace, which may ſerue for our owne preſent vſe, heereby alſo may wee trie the truth of the worke, and ſo by faithfull improuing ſuch particular Gifts, graciouſly thriue therein.
3. That ſeeing euen ſuch graces as are neceſſarie for the finiſhing of the worke, are not diſpenſed vntounto vsus, in their full meaſure at the firſt, but ſo enlarged and encreaſed, as our capacitie ſerues, and occaſions doe require: Therefore, though wee find not the full meaſure at the firſt, nay, rather finde a growing therein, according to the wiſedome of the diſpoſer, and our ſpeciall occaſions, and ſo can improue and apply the ſame accordingly. Hereby wee may truely diſcerne the Meaſure of our Growth, and ſtill may further our thriuing in Grace, and ſo alſo may reape ſound comfort therein.
Thus of Triall by the diuers diſpenſation of the graces of God.
A third Rule yet remaines, concerning the ſeuerall adminiſtration of them, both for the Triall of the Meaſure of our Growth, and comfort therein.
Namely, that ſeeing the Lord requires no more then he enables vntounto, and enables no otherwiſe, then that ſtill his power may be ſeene in weakneſſe, and his glory perfected in infirmitie, and turnes al things about to the beſt vntounto vsus. Therefore,
1 As the gift is giuen, but in it order & meaſure, not fully once, but by degrees according to the fit ſeaſons: therfore if it bee employed accordingly thereunto, hereby wee may diſcerne the meaſure of our growth.
2 Seeing the diuine aſſiſtance euen in the vſe of the ſame meaſure of grace proues vſually different; either, becauſe he may ſuſpend, or enlarge as he pleaſeth, or ſomewhat may be in vsus, which may cauſe the ſuspenſion thereof, either want of preparation, or neglect of repentance or confidence in our owne wiſedome, or ſuch like: therefore though now we finde not the like ſucceſſe of our endeauours, or happily finde the contrary: yet may wee not iuſtly challenge our thriuing in grace, nor that wee hauehave abated of our former meaſure, but rather comfort our ſelues in what formerly wee hauehave found: And ſo relying on Gods faithfulneſſe, aſſure our ſelues of a recompence herein: ſo labour to finde out and remoue the cauſe of this diuine failing, that ſo we may not faile of ſufficient amends.
3. Seeing we muſt looke for oppoſition in well doing, and the more wee endeauour, the more we ſhall be oppoſed, and ſo ſometimes mainely diſappointed in our beſt endeauours for the preſent by the preuailings of tentation. Therefore hereby ſhall we diſcerne and approue the meaſure of our growth, if wee can more particularly deſcry the tentation, and be more humbled in our yeelding thereto: if we proue more diligent and earneſt, euen after our foyles, and watch more ſeriouſly againſt future aſſaults. This doth graciouſly euidence the meaſure of our growth, and much auaileth to the encreaſe of the ſame.
And thus of the firſt rule, that God requires of vsus according to the meaſure hee giues, as alſo of ſuch particular branches thereof as ſerue to trie the meaſure of our spirituall growth.
A ſecond comfortable rule hereto is, That the grace of God ſhall bee ſufficient for vsus. That is,
That the meaſure which already we hauehave attained by grace, for the preſent ſhall be ſufficient for vsus, to ſuſtaine vsus againſt tentation, to giuegive vsus acceptance with God, through the power of his free grace, that ſo we ſhall not fall deſperately backeward againe. And ſecondly, that grace whereby we hauehave come thus farre forward, ſhall ſtill bee effectuall and ſufficient by new ſupply to leade vsus yet further and further till Ieſus Chriſt be perfected in vsus.
The grounds hereof are theſe, firſt, in regard of God,
1. The abſolute power of God herein, in giuing that meaſure of grace which beſt pleaſeth him. 2. Phil. 15.
2. His ſingular wiſdome in diſpoſing of the meaſure he giueth, as fitteſt for our preſent eſtate and occaſions.
3. His infinite goodneſſe in accepting the meaſure hee beſtoweth, aboue all woorth thereof, in the merite of his Sonne.
4. His incompatible glory, who thus diſpoſeth of the Meaſure, and accepteth the ſame, that hee may hauehave the onelyonly glory of his Power and Wiſedome and MercieMercy, in diſpoſing and accepting of his gifts, as may wholly reſpect the ſame.
2 In respect of our ſelues.
1. Our Incapacitie of receiuing ſome gifts, or the meaſure of them.
2. Our Infidelitie and Aptneſſe, to limit our God vntounto the Gifts, and Iſſue thereof.
3. Our different occaſions for the vſe of his gifts, in their ſeuerall ſeaſons.
Out of which ariſeth theſe comfortable Concluſions, for the Triall and furtherance of the Meaſure of our spirituall Growth.
As firſt for Triall,
That ſeeing what wee hauehave for the preſent ſhall be ſufficient, whether wee faile in our endeuours, or ſucceed well therein, and that through the free grace of God comforting vsus in our deſires, though wee faile in the iſſue, and accepting the ſucceſſe farre aboue the worth thereof. Therefore, if now wee can ſtill relye vponupon the free grace of God, referring our ſelues to what ſucceſſe it pleaſe him, and yet not neglecting the vſe of any meanes, whereby wee may attaine the beſt ſucceſſe, comforting our ſelues in our faylings, by what wee would doe, and …umbling our ſelues in what wee hauehave done, as beeing full of weakeneſſe and corruption, and ſtill relying on Gods free grace, for our further enabling; this is a gracious euidence of the Meaſure of our Growth.
2 Seeing the Grace of God is free and ſo conſtant, as to perfect the worke hee hath begun in vsus, and therefore wee ſhall certainely in due time attaine perfection; therefore if in all our endeuours and proceeding, wee ſtill relye on Gods free grace, both for the acceptance of our perſons, that wee may bee enabled to well doing, as alſo for the vndertaking and proſecuting of the worke, meerely held of his free grace, ſpecially in the iſſue thereof, ſubmit wholy thereto, and comfort our ſelues in the acceptance of our perſons, aboue all worth of our well doing, and in the truth of Gods promiſes beyond al preſent performance of the ſame, liuing ſtill by faith in Ieſus Chriſt, and ſeeing a farre off by faith into the glory which ſhal be reuealed; ſhall endeauour ſtill to caſt away eueryevery thing that preſſeth downe, and ſhake off the ſpeciall ſinne that hangeth ſo faſt on vsus, that ſo wee may runne with ioy the race that is ſet before vsus. This is a ſure euidence of our spirituall growth, hereby wee ſhall approue and improue dayly the meaſure thereof.
Laſtly, ſeeing whatſoeuer wee are or ſhall be, is of Gods free bountie, and ſuperaboundant grace: therefore if in whatſoeuer we are or doe, we aſcribe all to the meere goodneſſe of God, doing all our workes for vsus, and crowning all our workes in vsus, enabling vsus to doe aboue what wee can deſire or thinke, and accepting what wee doe aboue any abilitie or worth in, and of our ſelues. Hereby wee may truely euidence the meaſure of our spirituall growth, the more wee can depend vponupon the abſolute goodneſſe of God: and ſo may gratiouſly improue and further our haſtning on to perfection.
A fourth rule hereunto is,
That
As there are diuers meaſures of glory, ſo there are alſo diuers meaſures of grace ſutable thereunto. And yet each ſhall hauehave ſufficient to make vp his particular meaſure: and this, according to the free grace of God, who giueth to each as it pleaſeth him And this according to his vnſpeakeable Wiſedome, to reſerue the glory of his merciemercy intirely vntounto himſelfe: yet ſo, as that,
1 In the diuerſitie of meaſure, each ſhall hauehave ſufficient to the end they are ordained.
2 Each ſhall hereby be more ſeruiceable to each other, for the preſent, common good, and future maine End, euen the glorie of God.
3 And ſo each ſhall hereby prouoke other more effectually in their ſeuerall meaſure to their maine End, the glorie of God, and their owne ſaluation.
Out of which Ground ariſe theſe moſt comfortable Concluſions.
1 That ſeeing the wiſe Lord diſpenſeth ſeuerally, according to his pleaſure; therefore wee muſt bee contented with what hee hath diſpoſed, and yet not neglect the meanes, whereby wee may both confirme what wee hauehave, and alſo encreaſe it in our ſeuerall occaſions.
2 That ſeeing in this Diuerſitie yet each ſhall hauehave ſufficient; therefore wee may neyther enuie the greater meaſure of others, nor bee deiected in our owne leſſe: but rather with thankfulneſſe bleſſe our God, that it is more then wee deſerue, and in all chearefulneſſe and diligence improue the ſame. finding this as an euidence of the truth of the Meaſure, and our good huſbandry therein, that we ſo reſt in the ſame, as ſtill to haſten forward to the Price that is ſet before vsus; and meaſure our ſelues and others, as wee follow Christ, and endeuour to be partakers of his fulneſſe, that God may bee be all in all in vsus.
And hereunto ſerues a fift Rule.
That the Spirit worketh freely, as in the manner, ſo especially in the meaſure thereof.
That is,
Whereas the worke of Grace is the onelyonly worke of Gods Power and Goodneſſe, and that onelyonly for his glory; therefore, ſeeing nothing in vsus can further or hinder him therein, it muſt needs follow, that as by his Spirit hee begins the worke in vsus freely, when and how hee pleaſeth; ſo alſo doth hee moſt freely lead forward the ſame, both by what meanes & manner ſeemes beſt to his diuine wiſedome: yea, then doth moſt expreſſe this admirable libertie, when by reaſon of greater oppoſitions without, and tentations within, his glory may bee the more preſerued, or impeached. And this fals out in the greater meaſure of our Groweth. Becauſe now; we ſhall be ſubiect to more inward buffettings, of ſpirituall Pride, vaine glory, Hypocriſie, or the like, to hinder our true iudgement thereof, or the further thriuing therein: And now we ſhalbe more priuie to the deceitfullneſſe of our hearts and power of corruption, which without his ſpeciall grace, may diſtract and confound vsus in the ſame: Yea we ſhall want greater oppoſitions from without, by ſlaunders, perſecutions, and to diſcourage, and deiect therein. And therefore herein the liberty of the spirit doth appeare more wiſely and gloriouſly, either ſuſpending ſome opperations thereof, which might cauſe thoſe ſpirituall ends, or leauing vsus to ſome outward euils, to purge out thoſe that are inward, and yet ſuſtaining vsus wonderfully with ſecret euidences to controule the deceitfulnes of the heart, and ſatisfie vsus gratiouſly againſt the chalenges thereof: and to comfort vsus alſo in the greateſt ſence of inward corruption: Yea mightily arming vsus with inward power to ouercome all outward oppoſitions, and recompenſing the ſame gloriouſly with more inward, vnſpeakable and glorious ioy. And yet in all theſe working moſt freely, both concerning the time, and meaſure and meanes, as pleaſeth him. That he may hauehave the only glory of all his workes, and fleſh may bee confounded in all confidence therein.
Of which more Particularly in the Caſes hereafter.
From whence ariſe theſe moſt comfortable Rules for the Triall of the meaſure of our Growth and proceeding therein
As firſt, that ſeeing the Spirit worketh freely, euen from the Beginning to the end of the worke, therefore we muſt diſcerne the Meaſure of our Growth by the Free working of the Spirit, both affording what meaſure of ability it pleaſeth him in weldoing as alſo giuing ſuch ſucceſſe thereto, as may ſtill euidence it abſolute libertie, and reſerue the glorie intirely vntounto God; that ſo wee may neyther bee puffed vp with good ſucceſſe, to hinder further proceeding, nor confounded in the contrary, to challenge the truth of the worke.
2 That in our greateſt meaſure wee ſtill depend vponupon the libertie of the Spirit, affording comfort therein, and abilitie to improue the ſame aright, and ſo ſtill to goe forward, and alſo wiſely tempering our beſt endeuours with many interruptions and diſappointments; that ſo the fleſh may be abaſed, and all carnall glory confounded.
But of this before, in the opening of that Reſemblance.
A ſixt Rule hereto is,
That the Power of God is ſeene in our weakeneſſe, and his glorie perfited in our infirmities.
That is,
Seeing our eſtate in Grace is imperfect at the beſt, by reaſon of inward Corruption ſtill accompanying the ſame, and alſo of outward Tentations hindering thereof; and all this, that God onelyonly may hauehave the glorie of all his mercies: Therefore neceſſarily muſt our weakeneſſe be dayly ſubdued by the power of God, which otherwiſe would preuayle to ouerthrow the Worke, or elſe wiſely turned to the furtherance of the Worke, that the glorie of both may onelyonly redound to the Lord: Both the glorie of his Power, in ſubduing or more weakening Corruption dayly, which of it ſelfe neceſſarily encreaſeth, and of our ſelues wee are no way able to ſubdue: As alſo the glory of his Wiſedome, in weakening and ſubduing Corruption by ſuch meanes and in ſuch manner, as in all likelyhood of fleſh ſerues more to enrage and encreaſe the ſame, as by Afflictions, Deſertions, and ſuch like. Yea, wonderfully turning about the ſence and power of Corruption, not onelyonly to the weakening thereof, but alſo to further vsus graciouſly to a greater encreaſe of Grace.
From whence doe ariſe theſe comfortable concluſions to diſcerne the Meaſure of Grace, and further vsus therein.
Firſt, that ſeeing the Power of God is ſeene in weakeneſſe. Therefore as wee may not looke for any further Meaſure of grace in this life, then what is accompanied with much weakeneſſe, ſo wee may heereby diſcerne that to bee a competent and thriuing meaſure of grace, which ſ…rues moſt to diſcouer corruption, tends moſt to the ab…ſing and ſubduing thereof. So that the more wee feele the burthen of corruption, the more wee are ſure that wee grow in Grace, the more wee diſcerne the deceitfulneſſe of the heart, and peruerſnes of our thoughts, the more light and grace wee hauehave receiued. Yea the more wee are abaſed and emptied of all confidence in our owne abilitie, the more wee are intereſſed in the power of God. The more wee diſcerne our faylings in the beſt, and renounce our owne righteouſneſſe, the more wee liue by Faith in the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, and ſo thereby ſhalbe more enabled to Perfection.
Secondly ſeeing the Glory of God is Perfected in Infirmitie: Therefore if in all our actions wee ayme at Gods glory, ſubbordinating our chiefeſt good thereunto, and ſtill denying our ſelues and beſt righteouſnes; that he onelyonly may be glorified in the beginning and leading forward of the worke. This is a gratious euidence of the Meaſure of our Growth: hereby wee may reape found comfort in the greateſt ſenſe of our infirmities.
But of this more heretofore in that Rule that wee muſt liue by Faith and not by ſenſe.
A ſeuenth Rule hereto is,
That ſeeing Affliction is a gracious Meanes and Triall of our ſpirituall Growth; therefore hereby wee hauehave ſome light to diſcerne the Meaſure thereof; eſpecially in thoſe Afflictions which ſtrip vsus of reioycing in the fleſh. Which vſually is no meane encouragement, to ſtriuing in well-doing, that wee may hauehave prayſe with men, ſerue our preſent turnes.
1. Such are Slanders and Reproaches for well-doing, Ill requitall when wee hauehave done our beſt, becauſe happily wee hauehave mingled ſome carnall Ends therewith.
And,
2. Diſappointment of hopes for preſent occaſion, both ſpirituall and outward.
3. No comfort in Prayer, hauing the Word, but rather greater ſenſe of Corruption.
If now in theſe ſtrange Croſſings and Confuſions wee can ſo carry our ſelues, as though wee muſt be humbled herein, becauſe ſome cauſe is in our ſelues, yet ſtill we muſt and can go forward, holding to the teſtimony of our conſcience in the truth of what wee hauehave done, and yet renouncing the verdit thereof, to be iuſtified thereby, can ſtill in obedience to our God through the power of Chriſt wraſtle againſt theſe confuſions, as that ſtill we proue more ſerious and spirituall in well doing: not ſo much to ſtop the mouth of the wicked, as to approue the ſinceritie of our hearts vntounto our God, and grow more familiar with him, weaning our ſelues from popularitie and by-reſpects, and retyring our ſelues into the ſecrets of the Almightie: this is gracious euidence of our encreaſe, in a good meaſure of grace, of our hastning to perfection, and eternall glory.
Aſſuring our ſelues that though in regard of corruption now more diſcouered, and oppoſing, we are like to meete with more affronts, both from within and without. Yet as theſe do call for a greater ſupply of Gods grace to ſubdue them: ſo they argue a greater meaſure of heauenly light, by diſcerning and ſtriuing againſt them, and ſo ſhall intereſſe vsus in a greater meaſure of Gods power to maſter the ſame, yea ſhall bee a meanes to prouoke vsus to a more earneſt ſtirring vp of the spirit in vsus to aſſiſt vsus in the conqueſt, enable vsus to a more diligent vſe of our spirituall weapons to encounter the ſame, and yeeld vsus more experience of the wiſedome and power of God enabling vsus herein, be more humbled in the ſenſe of our owne traiterous heart, dayly labouring to betray vsus herein & ſo dayly more prouoked to the denyall of our ſelues, that we may ſtill be found in Christ, and by his power enabled to perfection.
And comforting our ſelues, that as our greater meaſure of tryall argues a greater meaſure of Grace, becauſe the Lord will lay no more vponupon vsus than what wee ſhall be able to endure, and will giuegive an iſſue to the tentation, according to his grace, and as it ſhall bee beſt for vsus: therefore ſhall his grace bee ſufficient for vsus, to beare the brunt, that wee may not be ouercome thereof, and the ſame grace that ſuſtaines in the combate, will enable vsus to ſuch a conqueſt therein, as that ſtill we may hold of Gods free grace for our humiliation, and waite vponupon the ſame, for our preſent deliuerance, and hunger after the full meaſure therof, for our finall deliuerance out of all our troubles.
The laſt rule for the triall of the meaſure of our ſpirituall Growth and comfort therein, is, that Golden Rule of the bleſſed Apoſtle.
Namely.
That all things worke together for the beſt to thoſe that louelove God, euen to thoſe that are called according to his purpoſe.
That is,
Seeing the worke of our ſanctification is of Gods free grace, ſo leading forward the ſame, that as may ſerue to our maine Good euen to attaine the Goale and alſo the maine ende, euen the glory of our God. And therefore though we are like to meete with many interruptions of ſinne and afflictions to hinder the worke, in regard of our owne inward corruption and the malice of Satan, and outward occaſions working their part: yet ſeeing the Lord promiſed to perfect the worke hee hath begunne in vsus, therefore will he herein eſpecially make good his word, to ſupply vsus with ſuch outward meanes, as may further the ſame; namely, the continuall operation of his spirit, furniſhing …s, with all helpes hereunto. By the power whereof, euen all outward and contrary meanes ſhall be wonderfully turned about to the beſt vntounto vsus, euen to further our reckoning againſt the day of Chriſt.
So that if wee finde this experience in our ſelues, that we make aduantage of troubles and ſinnes to further vsus hereunto, wee may ſafely conclude that the grace of God is not in vaine in vsus. That we hauehave attained to a glorious meaſure thereof. Particularly, if we finde that our troubles and afflictions more wearie vsus from the louelove of the world, and ſerue more to the emptying of the fleſh of all carnall confidence, if they make vsus more compaſſionate and charitable in iudgeing and relieuing others and prooue gracious antidotes to preuent the breaking out of corruption, more effectuall purgations to eate out the core thereof, if wee finde that our troubles are ſtill warring to prepare for further trials, and wiſe preſeruatiues to keepe vsus frō vnneceſſaries dangers: And ſo thereby grow more watchfull againſt future aſſaults and the occaſions thereof our ſinnes: And yet can with more patience and cheerefulneſſe beare them, and ſo wait vponupon our God with more thankefulneſſe and contentment in the iſſues of the ſame, quieting our ſelues in ſuch iſſue, as though it croſſe our preſent expectation, yet it may ſerue to our future good, and affordeth (if we can ſee by faith) no ſmall aduantage for the preſent. Theſe are gracious euidences that they worke together for the beſt vntounto vsus, and ſo doe truely auouch a great meaſure of Grace.
The like may be ſayd concerning our ſinnes. The ſame Rules ſeruing truly for both, of which I ſpare now further to entreate, becauſe you ſhall heare hereof anone more fully in the Caſes of Conſcience particularly explaining and reſoluing the ſame.