A Body of Practical Divinity

9. Such as do not grow in Grace, decay in Grace; non progredi in via est regredi, Bern. There is no standing at a stay in Religion, either we go forward or backward; if Faith doth not grow, Unbelief will. If Heavenly Mindedness doth not grow, Covetousness will. A Man that doth not increase his Stock, diminisheth it. If you do not improve your Stock of Grace, your Stock will decay. The Angels on Jacob's Ladder were either ascending or descending; if you do not ascend in Religion, you descend.

9. Such as do not grow in Grace, decay in Grace; non progredi in via est regredi, Bern. There is no standing at a stay in Religion, either we go forward or backward; if Faith doth not grow, Unbelief will. If Heavenly Mindedness doth not grow, Covetousness will. A Man that doth not encrease his Stock, diminisheth it. If you do not improve your Stock of Grace, your Stock will decay. The Angels on Iacob's Ladder were either ascending or descending; if you do not ascend in Religion, you descend.

10. The more we grow in Grace, the more we shall flourish in Glory. Though every Vessel of Glory shall be full, yet some Vessels hold more; he whose Pound gained Ten, was made Ruler over Ten Cities, Luke 19.17. Such as do not grow much, though they do not lose their Glory, yet they lessen their Glory. If any shall follow the Lamb in whiter and larger Robes of Glory than others, they shall be such as have shined most in Grace here.

Use. Lament we may the want of growth: Religion in many is grown only into a Form and Profession: This is to grow in Leaves, not in Fruit. Many Christians ⟨p. 217⟩