The Wonderful Mystery of Spiritual Growth, Chapter 2
THE CONTENTS of the ſecond Chapter.
WHat ſpirituall Growth is. Where.
1 The deſcription hereof.
2 The explication of this deſcription.
3 The iuſtification thereof.
4 The vſe of the ſame.
CHAP. II.
WHat ſpirituall growth is.
Namely, Firſt, A fruit of the holy Ghost. Secondly, Giuen vntounto vsus freely by Christ our head.
Thirdly, Whereby receiuing life and vertue from Chriſt into eueryevery part and facultie of ſoule and bodie in ſome true meaſure, by the aſſiſtance of the ſame ſpirit, we improue this ſpirituall guift of ſanctification according to the meanes afforded vntounto vsus in the encreaſe of eueryevery part, 1 The. 5.23and ſo do make encreaſe of the whole vntounto the edifying of the ſame in louelove. Epheſ. 4.16. till the whole come vp in the vnitie of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vntounto a perfect man, Ephe. 4.13.vntounto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulnes of Chriſt, Eph. 3.19.that we may be filled with al the fulnes of God, & ſo being made perfect & intire wanting nothing, comming behind in no guift. 1. Cor. 1.7. Our harts may be eſtabliſhed vnblameable before God euen our father, at the comming of our Lord Ieſus with all his Saints. 1. Theſſ. 3.13. being hereby made meete for that glorious inheritance with the Saints in light. Col. 1.12. and ſo waiting for the cōming of our Lord Ieſus. 1. Cor. …7. that he may change theſe vile bodies, that they may be faſhioned like vntounto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to ſubdue all things vntounto himſelfe. Phil. 3.21. That we may be for euer with the Lord. 1. The. 4.18. To raigne with him for euer in that kingdome which cannot be ſhaken. Heb. 12.28. Which is immortal and vndefiled and fadeth not, Mat. 25.prepared for vsus before the beginning of the world, and reſerued for vsus in the heauens, to triumphy with and praiſe our God wholy and continually for euermore.
Thus I take our ſpirituall growth may be deſcribed.
And this deſcription may bee thus explained, Namely:
Firſt (I ſay) it is a fruite of the holy Ghoſt: Sect. 2.implying that Chriſt Ieſus hauing merited ſaluation for vsus, as acquitting vsus in Gods Iustice by the vertue of his ſacrifice, from the penaltie of the Law, by ſatisfying the ſame for vsus, & enabling vsus through his power to ſuch a meaſure of holineſſe, whereby we ſhall be made fit for eternall happineſſe, for the reuealing and beſtowing of theſe benefits vponupon vsus, giues vsus his ſpirit to ſeale vp vntounto vsus the truth hereof: and by working faith in vsus, enables vsus thereby to apply the ſame vntounto our ſelues, for our encreaſe in grace, and ſo leades vsus forward by his ſpeciall aſſiſtance in the worke of grace, that wee may attaine to the full meaſure of the age of Chriſt.
2. I adde, that this grace of ſpirituall Growth is a free guift frō Ieſus Chriſt: who being giuen for vsus by God our Father to be our redemption, doth alſo giuegive himſelfe to vsus by his ſpirit, both to apply that worke of our redemption to our ſelues in particular by faith, and alſo by the power of faith in grafting vsus in him, we grow vp in him which is our head, dayly receiuing new ſappe and vertue from this roote, to encreaſe in all power and vertue of holineſſe, till at length wee attaine to the full stature of the age of Chriſt, being perfect and intire in him, wanting nothing, and all this of free guift, he that hath begunne the worke, leading it forward by his mightie power vntounto ſaluation: that hee may hauehave the onelyonly glory thereof. Philippians 2.12.13. 1. Pet. 1.5. And ſo leading it forward, that ſtill both for the Manner and Meaſure thereof, it is free and independent in regard of vsus.
3 I make manifeſt the manner of the working of Christ in vsus, by his ſpirit, whereby wee are enabled to grow vp in him in ſoundneſſe to perfection. Namely, that by the vertue of Chriſt not ſome one, or Jew faculties of the ſoule, are enclined and renued by him, but that eueryevery part, and facultie of the ſoule, yea each member of the body receiue life and nouriſhment from the head, as to it gratious enabling to the worke of intire obedience, ſo to it further growing and encreaſe vntounto perfection therein. Epheſ. 4.16. And to the acceptance of both perſons and ſeruice in the merite of Chriſt.
4 I proceed to diſcouer the manner of this ſpirituall growth: namely, that as it is by continuall ſupply of the meanes both inward, the bleſſed Spirit diſcouering dayly our failings, and leading to the outward meanes for recouery and enabling in the vſe thereof, both for recouery out of fayling and ſupply of ſuch graces as may further perfection. As alſo outward, the word to build vsus vp in knowledg and faith, and ſo in obedience: The ſacrament to miniſter ſpirituall nouriſhment, and ſuch like; ſo herein alſo ſetting downe a liuely triall of our Growth by the vſe of theſe means, that it is both according to them, they muſt be the Rule and Tuchſtone therof, as alſo Anſwerable to the Meanes in proportion, that where more meanes, there a greater meaſure of Growth to be expected, where leſſe, there if our Growth be leſſe, we may hauehave ſome comfort that we are not altogerher barren; how ſoeuer if this want of meanes be not from our ſelues, in making ſcarcitie where there is plentie, but from the diuine diſpenſation in chaſtiſing his people with ſcarcitie for the abuſe of plenty here we may comfort our ſelues, either, that what is affoorded ſhall be ſufficient, becauſe God will require no more then he giues, or what is wanting in the outward means, our God will ſupply by his Annointing, to refreſh vsus inwardly, if we hauehave not bin deſpiſers of the publick and ordinary meanes. 1. Ioh. 2.19.
5. Laſtly the finall cauſe, and ends of this ſpirituall growth, are propounded and auerred, tending to the perfiting of the worke of grace in vsus, and ſo preparing of vsus to the life of glory, which are in reſpect of vsus.
1. Our perſeuerance.
2. Our perfection hereupon.
3. Our glorification.
2. In reſpect of God.
1. The accompliſhment of his promiſes.
2. That he might hauehave the glory of the perfecting of his worke.
3. That our perfection may be wholy employed in ſetting forth his great name and glory.