I answer,1 that by adding a new degree of grace, as in making candles, which is done by addition, when a candle is put anew into the fat of boiled tallow, every time it is put in, it comes out bigger, with a new addition; or as a cloth dipped in the die, comes out upon every new dipping in with a deeper die. And this is done by a new act of creation, put forth by God. Therefore when David being fallen, prayed for increase of grace, he says, Create in me a new heart. And therefore Ephes. 4. 24. ⟨p. 110⟩when the Apostle exhorts to further putting on the new man, and speaketh of growth, he adds, which is created; for every new degree is created as well as the first infusion, which shows the difference between natural growth and this: In natural growth there needs not a new creation, but an ordinary concurrence; but it is not so in this, that God that begun the work, by the same power perfects it: And therefore Ephes. 1. 19. he prays that the believing Ephesians might see that power that continued to work in them, to be no less then that which raised up Christ; for though natural life may with a natural concurrence increase it self, because the terminus à quo, the terme from whence it springs, is but from a less degree of life to a greater: yet it is otherwise in this life, and our growth in this is from a greater degree of death, to a further degree of life: And therefore Phil. 9. the Apostle calls growing in grace, a going on to attain the resurrection from the dead: And therefore the same power that raised up Christ, must go along to work it. Hence also every new degree of grace is called a new conversion; except ye be converted, says Christ to his Disciples converted already; because the same power that wrought to conversion, goes still to this. And therefore it is said that God gives the increase, 1 Cor. 3. 7. and it is called the increasing of God, Colos. 2. 19. so Hos. 14. showing the ground why they grow so fast; Thy fruit is found in me, says God, ver. 7. although this is to be added by way of caution and difference, that therein God doth proportion his influence to our endeavours, which in conversion at first he doth not. Therefore we are said to be fellow workers with him, although it be he that gives the increase, 1 Cor. 3. 6, 7, 8. the same you have also, Rom. 8. We by the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh.
I answer,1 that by adding a new degree of grace, as in making candles, which is done by addition, when a candle is put anew into the fat of boiled tallow, every time it is put in, it comes out bigger, with a new addition; or as a cloth dipt in the die, comes out upon every new dipping in with a deeper die. And this is done by a new act of creation, put forth by God. Therefore when David being falne, prayed for increase of grace, he sayes, Create in me a new heart. And therefore Ephes. 4. 24. ⟨p. 110⟩when the Apostle exhorts to further putting on the new man, and speaketh of growth, he adds, which is created; for every new degree is created as well as the first infusion, which shews the difference between naturall growth and this: In naturall growth there needs not a new creation, but an ordinary concurrence; but it is not so in this, that God that begun the work, by the same power perfects it: And therefore Ephes. 1. 19. he prayes that the beleeving Ephesians might see that power that continued to worke in them, to be no lesse then that which raised up Christ; for though naturall life may with a naturall concurrence increase it selfe, because the terminus à quo, the terme from whence it springs, is but from a lesse degree of life to a greater: yet it is otherwise in this life, and our growth in this is from a greater degree of death, to a further degree of life: And therefore Phil. 9. the Apostle calls growing in grace, a going on to attaine the resurrection from the dead: And therefore the same power that raised up Christ, must goe along to work it. Hence also every new degree of grace is called a new conversion; except ye be converted, sayes Christ to his Disciples converted already; because the same power that wrought to conversion, goes still to this. And therefore it is said that God gives the increase, 1 Cor. 3. 7. and it is called the increasing of God, Colos. 2. 19. so Hos. 14. shewing the ground why they grow so fast; Thy fruit is found in me, sayes God, ver. 7. although this is to be added by way of caution and difference, that therein God doth proportion his influence to our endeavours, which in conversion at first he doth not. Therefore we are said to be fellow workers with him, although it be he that gives the increase,
- 1Answ.
