Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Thou hast a being in Christ, but be rooted in him by a more close adherence, and intimate Union within him, grow up into him in statures of Grace till thou come to the oil of gladness upon his head. There is some holy Love in thee, but be rooted and grounded in it, that thou mayest comprehend the breadth and length, and depth, and height, and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fullness of God, Ephes. 3.17, 18, 19. Through radicated and well-grown Graces, (as the Apostles assures us in that place,) admirable and wonderful things may be attained: In a sober sense we may take Infinity, know Transcendencies, and be filled with a Deity. Labour to grow every way downward in Humility and self-denial, upward in holy desires and raptures, inward in the vitals of Faith and Love, and outward in all holy fruits and good works: fill up the [Greek or Hebrew], that which is lacking in Faith and other Graces; let Patience and all other Graces have [Greek or Hebrew], their perfect work, that thy path may be as the shining light, shining more and more to the perfect day: As an Heavenly Pilgrim go from faith to faith, and from strength to strength, travelling to meet the day coming towards thee in the light of ⟨p. 438⟩Gods Countenance. In such a growth as this as in a clear glass thou mayest discover that thy Graces are vital and true feeds of Immortality: Statues and Pictures, such as Hypocrites are, grow not, Essentials and Vitals are Ultra penicillum: Sincerity and Divine Vitality cannot be painted. Consider therefore with thy self how it hath been with thee, there was but a little dawn in thy Heart and now a pure morning. Thy Grace was but a little grain of Mustard-seed, and now it is become a Tree. Thou wast but a little Embryo, a babe in Christ, and now a man of strength and spiritual stature; And what doth this argue but Life in thee? Consider again, thou hast an ocean of Corruption in thy Heart, and yet thy little spark of Grace hath grown; thou hast stood in the midst of Satan's winds and withering blasts, and yet thou growest; thou hast had many a sharp frost from the World to nip thy fruit in the bud, and yet thou growest: And what doth this speak but a seed and life of God in thee, such as will spring up into Life Eternal? Take this as an Earnest from God.

Thou hast a being in Christ, but be rooted in him by a more close adherence, and intimate Union within him, grow up into him in statures of Grace till thou come to the oylof gladness upon his head. There is some holy Love in thee, but be rooted and grounded in it, that thou maist comprehend the breadth and length, and depth, and height, and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg, and be filled with all the fulness of God,