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…

when it is said they have no root, (though I think he means also inherent habits of grace infused, for it is added, no root [in themselves,] which Job call the root of the matter which was in him) it is because they fetch not their strength to do all they do from Christ by faith, and from their union with him. And the reason is this, because they are never emptied of themselves, (which is the root we all do grow upon) either in regard of their own ends, or of their own efficiency of working. Whereas we must all be brought to nothing in our selves, both in regard of self-aims, and also abilities of working; and till our hearts are inwardly taught that lesion, that we are not sufficient, as of our selves, we will not go out of our selves, to do all in Christ. And therefore there was nothing which Christ endeavoured more to engraft upon their hearts then this Principle now at his departure, as it is ver. 4, 5. And indeed it is as hard a thing for nature to live out of its self, and fetch all from another, as not to live to its self, but to another. We are full of our own strength, as well as of our own ends. And although these unfruitful branches they do indeed receive all their strength from Christ, and so all they do in what is good, is from him: yet they do no honour Christ ⟨p. 16⟩in receiving it, by doing all as in his strength, and so do not do it as in him. But though they receive all, yet they work with it, as if it were their own stock, and so glory (as the Apostle says) as if they had not received it. And thus though the sap and liveliness which stirs them, is really, and all efficiently from Christ, yet they may be said to bring forth fruit in themselves, because both they neither fetch not receive it by faith, nor act by faith that strength received, as men that were acted by Christ, and as working all in Christ, but they do all, as if all proceeded from their own root: Even as the Ivy, though it clasping about the Oak, receives much sap from it, which it digesteth and turneth into it self, yet it brings forth all its berries by virtue of its own root, rather then as in the Oak, which yet sustains and supplies it with juice and sap; whereas a true Believer brings forth fruit in Christ, as a branch that is in and of the Oak it self, as its own root, and so from him all their fruit is found, Hos. 14. 8.

when it is said they have no root, (though I think he means also inherent habits of grace infused, for it is added, no root [in themselves,] which Job call the root of the matter which was in him) it is because they fetch not their strength to doe all they doe from Christ by faith, and from their union with him. And the reason is this, because they are never emptyed of themselves, (which is the root we all doe grow upon) either in regard of their owne ends, or of their owne efficiencie of working. Whereas we must all be brought to nothing in our selves, both in regard of self-aymes, and also abilities of working; and till our hearts are inwardly taught that lession, that we are not sufficient, as of our selves, we will not goe out of our selves, to doe all in Christ. And therefore there was nothing which Christ endeavoured more to engraffe upon their hearts then this Principle now at his departure, as it is ver. 4, 5. And indeed it is as hard a thing for nature to live out of its selfe, and fetch all from another, as not to live to its selfe, but to another. We are full of our owne strength, as well as of our owne ends. And although these unfruitfull branches they do indeed receive all their strength from Christ, and so all they doe in what is good, is from him: yet they doe no honour Christ