The parable of the prodigal. Containing, The riotous prodigal, or The sinners aversion from…

4. Spiritual Growth is a sign of Spiritual Life: You know ¹that living men do grow, until they attain unto that proportion and measure, which Nature (say the Philosophers,) God (say we) allots unto them. Therefore living Christians are compared to a sucking and thriving child, which sucks and grows by sucking: And to living branches that grow into more strength; and in Scripture, True Grace (which is the same with spiritual life) it is of an increasing and growing nature; Christ compares it to a grain of Mustard-seed, which is little at first, but in time grows and spreads exceedingly; and Solomon compares it to the Sun, which riseth more and more to the perfect day. Paul commends the Corinthians, that they did abound in all Grace; and prays for the Philippians, that their love might a bound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all Judgment; And he himself forgot what was behind, and pressed forward, and counted himself not to have apprehended. O you! who take your selves to be alive, do you grow in grace? Many men grow worse and worse under the means of Grace; many grow in notions, but they do not grow in Grace; many grow into new opinions, but they do not grow in holy affections. But do you grow in Grace? and do you grow in all ⟨p. 275⟩Grace? and do you grow according to the means of Growth? Alas! many men decay apace, and many men, like pictures, retain the same dimensions; sin is no more weakened after forty years living, then at the first; their old sins retain their old strength, and their faith receives no augmentation; they are no more able to trust on God for their bodies, nor to rely on Christ for their souls then heretofore. The barrenness and unfruitfulness of Christians, is an unspeakable dishonour to the Gospel, and an evident testimony, that they have but a form of Godliness without the power of it; I might now have shown you, that true spiritual Growth is 1. Especially an inward Growth. 2. And a general Growth. 3. And the Growth comes in by the Growth of Faith. 4. And appears best in the Growth of humility.

4. Spiritual Growth is a sign of Spiritual Life: You know ¹that living men do grow, until they attain unto that proportion and measure, which Nature (say the Philosophers,) God (say we) allots unto them. Therefore living Christians are compared to a sucking and thriving child, which sucks and growes by sucking: And to living branches that grow into more strength; and in Scripture, True Grace (which is the same with spiritual life) it is of an increasing and growing nature; Christ compares it to a grain of Mustard-seed, which is little at first, but in time growes and spreads exceedingly; and Solomon compares it to the Sun, which riseth more and more to the perfect day. Paul commends the Corinthians, that they did abound in all Grace; and praies for the Philippians, that their love might a bound yet more and more in knowledg, and in all Judgment; And he himself forgat what was behind, and pressed forward, and counted himself not to have apprehended. O you! who take your selves to be alive, do you grow in grace? Many men grow worse and worse under the means of Grace; many grow in notions, but they do not grow in Grace; many grow into new opinions, but they do not grow in holy affections. But do you grow in Grace? and do you grow in all