The trial of a Christians growth in mortification, purging out corruption, or vivification, bringing…The tryall of a Christians growth in mortification, purging out corruption, or vivification, bringing…

Thirdly,¹ this growth in grace, and bringing forth more fruit, is not simply to be reckoned by the largeness or smallness of those opportunities which men have of doing more or less good, and so, By the bringing forth of more fruit, in respect of more opportunities vouchsafed. Some that have more grace, and better gifts, have their shop-windows shut, night overtakes them, and the power of darkness, as it did Christ himself in the end, and then they cannot work. Others have lesser shops to work in, and yet have more grace; yea, the same man may have larger opportunities when young, and lesser when he is old, and yet grows, and brings forth before God more fruit, because he accepts the will for the deed: So the Baptist was hindered in his latter time in prison, when yet he brought forth more fruit, and therefore he envied not Christ that got all his custom, his hearers and Disciples, but rejoiced that the work went forward, though not by himself: here was as much grace expressed, as in many Sermons. So Paul, he was much of his time in prison, yet then he ceased not to bring forth more fruit that should tend to his salvation, for Phil. 1. 15, 16. when as he being in prison, he heard others preached, and that out of envy to him, others out of good will, I in prison rejoiced, says he, that Christ is preached, though I cannot do it my self: and I know, says he, that this shall turn to my salvation, ver. 19. These fruits were as much, and would bring him in as much glory as his preaching. Indeed when a man shall prize opportunities of doing good, and for them voluntarily let go all opportunities of advancing himself and his credit, or ease, or carnal advantages, then the more fruit he brings forth in those opportunities, the more is reckoned on his score.

Thirdly,¹ this growth in grace, and bringing forth more fruit, is not simply to be reckoned by the largenesse or smallnesse of those opportunities which men have of doing more or lesse good, and so, By the bringing forth of more fruit, in respect of more opportunities vouchsafed. Some that have more grace, and better gifts, have their shop-windowes shut, night overtakes them, and the power of darknesse, as it did Christ himselfe in the end, and then they cannot work. Others have lesser shops to work in, and yet have more grace; yea, the same man may have larger opportunities when young, and lesser when he is old, and yet growes, and brings forth before God more fruit, because he accepts the will for the deed: So the Baptist was hindred in his latter time in prison, when yet he brought forth more fruit, and therefore he envied not Christ that got all his custome, his hearers and Disciples, but rejoyced that the work went forward, though not by himself: here was as much grace expressed, as in many Sermons. So Paul, he was much of his time in prison, yet then he ceased not to bring forth more fruit that should tend to his salvation, for