Spiritual refining

Fourthly, To walk, implieth progress and increase in godliness. To walk is a progressive motion, and every step a man takes he gaineth more ground, and is nearer ¹to his journeys end; and thus it is in godliness. The Converted man he gaineth, he groweth, he is nearer the top of the hill than he was. Thus Paul you may see him not only walking, but even running [Greek or Hebrew], I press hard after, I forget the things that are behind. Oh this is a necessary point: for who attends to growth in Grace? To get more of this treasure, though the Scripture doth so often press it. The old rule is, Non progredi, est regredi; Not to go forward, is to go backward. Yet how many are at a stand, yea decay and abate in former graces! Is this to walk in the ways of God? like Hezekiah's Sun, thou art gone so many degrees backward. Into what a Consumption art thou fallen? who would take thee to be the same thou wert once? Every duty and grace is so withered, that as David said of his body, Thy bones stand out through leanness. It may be indeed even a Converted mans condition, not to walk on forward, but to fall backward, and be many degrees short of what others are, who set out at the same time with him, but then they recover again to their great advantage. As Children after a disease hath pulled them down, when they recover, they shoot out higher. As stumbling makes a man get more ground, so that even in their very sins, though they be extra semitam, yet not extra viam; for the grace of God recovering them will make this very letting a whetting to them, and be more zealous and active, by how much they have been negligent. Howsoever therefore there may be accidental obstructions, and checks to grace in its walk: yet the Nature and inclination of Godliness is to be always carrying us on to further perfection. This walking is still nearer and nearer to our journeys end: Faith is increased, Love and heavenly-mindedness are more promoted. Remember therefore, thou art a Traveller, thy godliness is a walking; sit not down, and say, Soul take thy ease, for thou hast grace enough, godliness enough: This is an Argument thou hast none at all. When Laodicea said, She was full, and rich, and wanted nothing, then she was poor and miserable, and wanted all things, Rev. 3. Apelles when he had drawn his line, would write faciebat, in the imperfect Tense, and not fecit;

Fourthly, To walk, implyeth progresse and increase in godlinesse. To walk is a progressive motion, and every step a man takes he gaineth more ground, and is nearer