Thirdly. Whether do ye not grow more off from the youthful things that godly men do look unto? I say, the things that the youthfulness of godliness is taken much with? Ye know, that Youth is taken with many things that the state of man is not. A child, a little child is taken with Babies, and with Rattles, and with Gays; and when it grows bigger to eight, nine, or ten years old, 'tis taken with other things; and as the child grows into a man, so he grows off from those childish, and youthful things. There are some things, that the youth of godliness is taken withal; as, taken much with expressions in Prayer, and Duty, and Hearing the Word; and taken much with the Sense & feeling of Gods love; (this is good) & they cannot live without it. But when a man grows into more strength of grace, then he grows off from these things that the youth of godliness is taken withal, and he is more able to live without them; heretofore he could not live without such an expression in Duty, and he could not live by faith alone: but now, when once he grows to a man in grace, he is more grown off from that which the youth of godliness is taken withal. Now upon all these things, I appeal to ye, who ever ye are that makes this Objection, and say, Ye cannot grow in grace, and therefore afraid that ye are but the painted child of God, and not the living child of God: Whether do ye not find, that ye are more grown off from those ⟨p. 18⟩things that the youth of godliness is taken with? Whether do you not find, that ye are less subject to be offended now, than you were heretofore? And are you not more grown off from your own Righteousness? Yes, I must needs say this, through the Lords goodness and mercy to me; though I am not grown in grace as I desire, yet I am more grown off from my own Righteousness than I was heretofore: and I am not so subject to be offended at the good ways of God and the people of God, as heretofore: And (I praise God) I can live off from those things that the youth of godliness is taken withal: Well, be of good comfort, thou art grown, and thou art not the painted child, but, for ought I know, thou mayest be the living child, dear and precious with the Lord thy father.
Thirdly. Whether do ye not grow more off from the youthfull things that godly men do look unto? I say, the things that the youthfulness of godliness is taken much with? Ye know, that Youth is taken with many things that the state of man is not. A child, a little child is taken with Babies, and with Rattles, and with Gaies; and when it grows bigger to eight, nine, or ten years old, 'tis taken with other things; and as the child growes into a man, so he grows off from those childish, and youthfull things. There are some things, that the youth of godlines is taken withall; as, taken much with expressions in Prayer, and Duty, and Hearing the Word; and taken much with the Sence & feeling of Gods love; (this is good) & they cannot live without it. But when a man grows into more strength of grace, then he grows off from these things that the youth of godliness is taken withal, and he is more able to live without them; heretofore he could not live without such an expression in Duty, and he could not live by faith alone: but now, when once he grows to a man in grace, he is more grown off from that which the youth of godlines is taken withall. Now upon all these things, I appeal to ye, who ever ye are that makes this Objection, and say, Ye cannot grow in grace, and therfore affraid that ye are but the painted child of God, and not the living child of God: Whether do ye not find, that ye are more grown off from those ⟨p. 18⟩things that the youth of godliness is taken with? Whether do you not find, that ye are lesse subject to be offended now, than you were heretofore? And are you not more grown off from your own Righteousness? Yes, I must needs say this, through the Lords goodnes and mercy to me; though I am not grown in grace as I desire, yet I am more grown off from my own Righteousnes than I was heretofore: and I am not so subject to be offended at the good ways of God and the people of God, as heretofore: And (I praise God) I can live off from those things that the youth of godlinesse is taken withal: Wel, be of good comfort, thou art grown, and thou art not the painted child, but, for ought I know, thou mayest be the living child, dear and precious with the Lord thy father.
