Christ the fountain of lifeChrist the fountaine of life

Use 1. First then, you may from hence gather a sign of trial of your own faith, for if this be the Spirit of a godly Teacher to draw on those that are believers to believe; it is a good sign, as of a faithful Minister, so of a faithful Hearer, when he desires to supply the defects of his own and others faith; you see John, a faithful Minister to those Christians to whom he writes, he when he had brought them on to believe, and found faith wrought in their hearts, it was his care not there to leave them; he doth not say ⟨p. 203⟩as some would, well, there is now truth of grace in them, and truth of faith, such faith as accompanies salvation; and now he that begun this work in them will finish it, and so leave them; and you say, now you need take no further care about them, but now they will do well enough; no, this is not the spirit of a faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, and it will be but uncomfortable to such Ministers, as think now they may be left to the wide world,¹ they will shift any where, but where we see any seeds of faith begun, we must be desirous to increase it in our selves, and ours; the Apostles themselves pray, Lord increase our faith, Luke 17.5. and so they desire to increase other mens faith, we had need grow fast this way if we would have a true sign of a lively faith, true and lively faith always desires to grow in it self, and it would cause the like faith also to grow in others, and therefore as you see faithful Ministers are thus desirous to grow themselves, and to cause others to grow, as Paul prays exceedingly night and day, to come to those whom he had taken pains withal, that he might make a supply of what was wanting in their faith, and as faithful Ministers must clothe themselves with this earnest desire, to be calling yet more and more upon believers, that such as do believe may believe yet more, and grow from faith to faith. Truly so godly Christians, look as Ministers are desirous to grow in their own faith, and to help on others, so in Christians, it is a true sign of faith, not to content our selves in truth of faith, but to desire earnestly after growth in faith, had not they cause to pray that Paul might come among them again and help them?

Vse 1. First then, you may from hence gather a signe of tryall of your owne faith, for if this be the Spirit of a godly Teacher to draw on those that are beleevers to beleeve; it is a good signe, as of a faithfull Minister, so of a faithfull Hearer, when he desires to supply the defects of his owne and others faith; you see Iohn, a faithfull Minister to those Christians to whom he writes, he when he had brought them on to beleeve, and found faith wrought in their hearts, it was his care not there to leave them; he doth not say