Gods husbandry

CHAP. XVIII. Containing an exhortation to all true Christians to increase in goodness, with directions for that purpose.

CHAP. XVIII. Containing an exhortation to all true Christians to increase in goodnesse, with directions for that purpose.

And let me in the next place call earnestly upon each soul amongst you, Use 2 ¹to approve himself a true branch, by endeavouring after this increase in fruitfulness: for nothing doth more infallibly argue life, then growth, I mean, a suitable and proportionable growth of each part. Be not therefore satisfied with what you have already gotten, but strive to get more. Make your selves even unsatiably covetous after grace: account your selves never to have enough, but for this matter: imitate the Horse-leach, and the grave, and be always saying, Give, give; for no grace is further sound, then it is joined with an hungering after more. O then, travel forward in the paths of righteousness daily. Labour to be each week more holy, more heavenly minded, more patient, more temperate, more contentfull, more prayerful, more abundant and affectionate in holy cogitations, and to do all good things more sincerely, and more heartily, with a more particular and actual intending of Gods glory in each of them, and with a more feeling attractive of love inducing you to them. Grow, I say, continually, either bigger, or better, or both. Let these words put wings ⟨p. 144⟩to your souls, and let this exhortation, as it were a good gale of wind to a ship, carry you more swiftly towards the haven of perfection. You cannot glorify God, or profit your selves, or edify your brethren more, or better; you cannot make a better preparation for death, or the day of affliction, nor make your assurance of eternal happiness more large and undeceivable, then by making a continual progress in the virtues of Christ Jesus, Faint not therefore nor grow weary; let not your hands fall from this work; slow not your pace in this journey: but provoke your selves, and let the Word of God provoke you to be yet more and more godly, righteous, sober, and to proceed from faith to faith, from virtue to virtue, till you be made at last fully conformable to the Image of Christ. Let there be no going back in any hand, no flying, no revolting. By going back, you shall as much as proclaim to all the world, that you account Gods service an ill service, and his work an unprofitable work, not worth the while to employ your selves in it. By going back, you should give occasion of discouragement to others, and lay up matter of grief and shame for your selves.