Minimè verò bonus est , qui melior non vult fieri . Ber. ep. 91. Qui melior esse non cupit nec est bonus . 1 Such haue no grace at all , onely guilded outsides . That seede which growes not , is rotten vnder the clods : He was neuer good that mends not : The goodnesse of the ground is knowne by the crop .

2 Painted corne ripens not : these disgrace the meanes God hath giuen them , as the Word and Sacraments ; a leane-fac'd seruant disparageth his Masters house-keeping .

3 The curse of God lights on them . Wee say if our children , corne , cattell , or grasse , prosper not , that they are bewitched : What ? a good Farme and thriue not ? surely Gods blessing is not there . It is a heauy iudgement on the enemies of the Church , to be as the grasse vpon the house tops , which withereth afore it grow vp , Psal. 129.6 .

Non progredi est regredi . 4 Not to goe forward , is going backward ; we cannot stand at a stay , either ascend or descend ; coldnesse lets in custome , and custome causeth defending of sin .

Vse 1 Let scruteny be made in the first place , let vs Ministers try your sufficiencies ; God will one day search with candles . Good gold feares not the ballance nor touch-stone , Zeph. 1.12 . but a bankrupt abides not the counting-booke . You haue heard the fitnesse of this duty , let something be said as a Iacobs-staffe to take the height of your graces . I purpose by Gods assistance , first to spread a plaister , then to apply it , first to draw , then to shoote . A little to discouer the markes of growing , and then to lay my finger where it smarts . To deliuer somewhat as I may say in complexo altogether ; Know this , that growing children are hungry , they eate much and often ; he waxeth but slowly that panteth not after the word of God , the bread of life . Furthermore , note , that as the Philosopher saith ; Arist. de ortu & interit . c. 5. Augmentation keepes the same species , when knowledge turnes into idle disputes , and beleeuing becomes presuming , and a tender conscience fals to vaine scruples , as we see in our bedlam Anabaptists , and phantasticall Brownists , whose doctrine is criticall , and their conuersations hypocriticall ; here is not Augmentation , but Mutation , not cherishing , but changing . A true grower addes daily some cubit to his stature , and in holding the truth , he beleeues the Philosophers prouerbe , That he can neuer offend in the excesse . Againe , Philosophy saith , Circa quali●ates bonas nemo peccat in excessis . there must be ●n apt proportion in augmentation : It is vnseemely and monstrous in nature , for a childe to grow in armes onely , and not in the legges , or in legs and armes , but not in body ; so to haue more knowledge , and lesse humility , to thriue in ioy , and be ●●d●-bound and hand-bound in good workes , is neither kindly nor comfortable . Wee are to put forward the slowest growing grace . In a word , some tokens that wee are of a larger size , are more accidentall : as , it is a thousand to one but our selues or others , or both our selues and others , will see●s ●aller then wee were , and our ouer●●●pping of those euil● , that were before too high for vs : So also growers shall haue ●●yals , the best schollers are most posed the highest trees subiect it to windes , the diuell and his agents a●●ault the richest b●●ties . The hotter the day the ●uster the ●yes ; the more gracious , the more opposed and lesse esteemed of the world . Good men are like a Pyramid , the nearer heauen , the lesse in mans eye .

But we may yet sift this poynt more narrower , and proceede 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 step by step . Try how thou are bettered in foure things .

First , In Mortification , doth thy bloud ●●●e more to see iniquity committed ? Is it thy hearts solace to see superstition , and prophanensse goe downe the winde ? Is thy hand and heart set against them ? Dost thou more tragically butcher thine owne euill , and is now thy coruptions soone crushed if they begin to swell ?

Secondly , In Vi●ification , hast thou more spirituall iournies to heauen ? Art thou earnester in thy thoughts and sighes . Doth loue striue for the strength of a Gyant ? If it be thus with thee , thou art a good tree that growes downeward in roote , and vpward in body and branch .

Thirdly , how is it with thee in holy duties ? Dost thou sweepe thy heart cleaner , and adorne the inward man more then thou hadst wont before thou commest to Gods ordinances ? Art thou more sincere , reuerent , and deuout , in performing thy seruices 〈◊〉 of old ? Though Sathan knocke now at thy heart , to enter in with his bastard 〈◊〉 , thou more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him , and resoluest the Minister shall plow , no more on the sands , nor sow on the waters , but let him shoot and hit the white . But principally the stronger Christian , the mightier in Prayer . Louers loue meetings , and the neerer marriage , the oftner they meete ; for in this sense the prouerbe is true , After building comes begging .

Fourthly , there is a sensible mending in workes , The fatter any one is in Grace , the more hee sweates out good workes . He hath a more quicke-edg'd purpose to take all occasion● of doing good , hee spreads his wings wider to helpe more people , hee dies now like a lofty Hawke at the best workes , hee that before was all for good to mens bodies , which are workes good in their kinde , these he performes more then before , but yet withall lookes higher , and labours to spread Gods Gospell , and to hoyst vp the sayle of drooping Religion , and with his Prayers , purse , and power doth his endeauour to beate downe Popery , and prophanenesse , and to be a light to them that sit in darkenesse .

Vse 2 Antipodes , opposite to this doctrine , are first , such as grow not ; secondly , or grow but in generall graces ; thirdly , or such as fall backe . It blots with blame , yea , bitterly bites Non profici●●●s . Many are as ignorant , as sinfull , as dull , as fruitlesse , as twenty yeares agoe ; they goe round as a horse in a mill ; they goe to the Church , to the Sacraments , to family-prayers , ●●nne vp and downe as Ants in a Mole-hill and doe nothing , and yet thinke they haue Religion enough , Quomodo proficis si tibi iam sufficis . Ber. de consid . l. 2. Such are frozen on their dr●gs , twice dead and pluckt vp by the rootes . Nay , we haue another generation of people that enuy the growing man . If any be like Saul among the people , higher by the head and shoulders in matters of Religion , he is hated ; as loytering seruants doe their fellowes that out-worke them . Dealing with his neighbours , as a Gardner with his hedge , if any part of it out-sprout the rest , he clips it downe . As Esops Foxe hauing lost his taile , would perswade all other Foxes to cut off their tailes . Act. 13.10 . Paul tels vs that an hinderer is the child of the deuill . As for those silly ones that are ouer-learning and neuer 〈◊〉 come to the knowledge of the truth , 2 Tim. 3.6.7 . but thinkes he should be as Pegasus , haue a golden bridle to stop his post-hast to God : These are as the prouerbe is ; Grecisemper pueri ; saith an Egyptian , apud Plat. in Time● . Alwayes children . Boyes and Trewants must be whipt . Ambrose elegantly obserues in Luke 21. the danger of a suckling , the ioy to haue it weined , and so grow vp . Abraham saith hee feasted when Isaac was weined , In ceruitu impij ambiulant . Eras . coloqui de naufrag . but the child that was not weined was ouerlaid by the mother . Thou art a wicked man . Circular motion is the motion of the heauens , but not the heauenliest motion , nor the perfectest . Fruitlesse dead trees must be pluckt vp . God may very well giue thee vp to hardnesse of heart , and say as once a Captaine did to one of his watch , finding him a sleepe , he flew him , saying , Dead I found thee , and dead I le leaue thee ; for being dead spiritually , God may iustly damne thee eternally . And standing so worse thou mayst be , better thou canst not be : The lying stone gathers mosse , the standing poole mudde . The bird mounting vpon wing , is out of feare , but sitting on the ground is in danger both of snare and Fowlet .

This Atheist may stand in his owne light , and spurne against our truth with this poore obiection ; That grace is a simple essence , and not naturall , and so not capable of growing .

Answ. It is true that a simple essence growes not in God the fountaine , or as I may say in the abstract , but secondarily in vs it may be further reuealed , and plentifully bestowed . There is a spirituall growing , as well as a naturall .

Secondly , Others stop the mouth of Conscience , with this , that they know more then they did , and can talke more of Religion then they had wont , and haue more dexterity in prayer , and the like . Such must know that there are some generall gifts of grace which God bestowes on vnregenerate men as such as these are I haue named . There is sauing graces , as mortification , godly sorrow , humility , and the like ; if thou mendst in these last kindes thou art happy indeede , but if thou growest onely in such graces , as Iudas , Achit●phel , or such hypocrites may haue , thy shew is more worth then thy substance : As a Cynamon tree , thy barke is more worth then thy body . Thy flourishing is but as a quagmire growne ouer with greene grasse . Psal. 129.6 . Thy growing cannot last , but as grasse on the house top , to wither before it grow vp . A tree cut vp by the rootes , may sprout forth leaues for a while : A man after he is dead for a time his nayles and haire may grow .

As for the former , they are but as a dog in a wheele ; the melancholly Stoikes went beyond them : and these of the latter sort ; it may be euill , is at a stand in them , through education or want of occasion ; as fire may want fuell ; but not one sinne yet hath his fatall blow as Goliah had , nor so much as a Bucke that hath his deaths wound , though he be not yet hunted downe . I say in all thy flourishing shewes thou deceiuest thy brethren with shadowes , and thy selfe with sinne .

Thirdly , But this is not all , we haue a disease called a consumption , wherein men grow , I confesse , but worse . Wee haue Townes , Rome . Cities , Kingdomes , Persons , as the Crab-fish goe backeward . Shall we begin with the worst first . Rome was once famous , Her faith was spoken of throughout the whole world , She was beautifull in her youth . Out of her loynes sprung worthy Martyres , and reuerend Ministers , but now she is dropt into a crooked old age , a foolish dotage . She hath nourished in her bosome a broode of mis-begotten Controuersies , and when wee haue discouered their yong opinions and blinde errors , like Foxes that are hard hunted , they seeke intricate holes , and thorny bushes , they hide themselues in knotty distinctions : So that as one saith , I haue sought Rome in Rome , Quaesini Romam in Roma , & non inueni Romam . and could not finde Rome : She will haue a Monopoly of heauen , and the prisoner at the barre will be iudge of the Law . She denies children for knowing their fathers will : She wil not onely forgiue sinnes , but maintaine sinnes . The Stewes yeeld good tribute to the grand-mother of spirituall fornications . Gretser p. 159. Bell de summo Pontif. l. 5 c. 7. Bannes in Tho. Aquin. 1● . 2●● . qu. 12. art. 2. Inst. Cath. 23. Ser. 12.13 . Her subiects must not obey out Princes , but depose them , yea , in some case kill them , though the Pope grant no speciall license . Yea , iure & merito , saith Simantha . May not we say of her doctrine as of Ieroboams shields , he found them of siluer , and left them of brasse ; so that now instead of louing her , wee must leaue her , and obey the charge giuen by the Prophet Ieremiah , Chap. 50.14 . Put your selues in aray against Babylon round about : all yee that bend the bow shoot at her , spare no arrowes , for she hath sinned against the Lord . England . Let this be Babylons disease alone . But as for the reformed Churches , let them ride on with their honour , and good prosperity haue they : Farre be it from them with Hezekiahs Sunne to goe backeward . Yet if we looke into the generall decay of godlinesse and vertue , we may with teares lament and say , That at the beginning men were Gyants in body , but now Gyants in sinne .

Common principles of honesty are become vnto many , Mali proficiunt boni deficiunt . Ber. as the writings on a tombe stone , by much treading almost quite defaced . Wickednesse growes , goodnesse decayes , by this cloude we may presage a storme .

But of this famous Citie I hope better things . London . Your workes haue blazed all the Kingdome ouer , and displayed their branches into other lands , you haue clothed the naked , fed the hungry , nursed the fatherlesse . And best of all which is put into the mouth of posterity , you haue bought eye-salue , and haue sent it to the blinde , and haue giuen Torches to them that haue dwelt in the gloomy darkenesse of thicke ignorance . Oh let it not be said that you retyre , or grow not on in grace and in charity as well as in knowledge . Let it not be said that you feed the poore sparingly , and plentifully feast the rich , who as Tennis-players , can bandy to you againe . As Rachel disliked her owne barrennesse , so did her husband : so doe you your fruitlesnesse . Principally haue a care so to honour God with your substance , as to send faithfull labourers into his Vineyard . I haue obserued my selfe dwelling in a Countrey where Popery and ignorance doth lamentably flourish , and their nests are for the most part in the Parish of some tenne pound Leuite , and wee shall often heare that in those places , some one or other is drawne to the superstitious faction ; and no maruell when mens mindes are as tabula nuda , fit for any impression , & so imbrace that Religion which is next to them , be it what it will . Many of you may say with Dauid ; Thou tookest me from behinde the ewes ; you had poore beginnings , and now God hath spread your tables , and fild full your cups . This life is a iourney , heauen our ayme ; be a viaticum to poore Trauellers , let your purses hire Preachers , and send the Gospell where it is not , that Romes superstitions may bee banished from this Land , and thereby sinne and sinners may be dashed out of countenance . Truely I may say as the Disciples did of the Asse . The Lord hath neede of him . Many good desires are among your poore Countrimen , but in many places for want of preaching ( the fuell for that fire ) all goes out : Isa. 37.3 . and as Hezekias said , The children are come to the births , and there is no strength to bring forth . Poore soules are so wounded by sinne , that they need lie vnder the Physitians hand . The Prouerbe in this sense is false . Homo sine doctore est vt caecus sine doctore . Aug de temp. Josephus l. 3. c. 9. Misere viuit qui medicè viuit ; For man without a Teacher is as a blind man without a guide , saith Augustin . And how can men but sleep when the candle is out ? Iosephus thought that when God shewed to Israel by Vrim and Thummim , whether they should goe to battell , it was thus , the Priest should put on the Ephod , & if the pretious stones shined , they need not feare their foes ; but I am sure , that if our pretious stones shine , I meane Gods Word , we neede not feare Antechrists kings of the earth . Well then , though it hath beene said that Popery like Leah was bleare-eyed , yet fruitfull , and we faire as Rachell , but barren , Oh put you that song in our mouthes , Psal. 113.9 . that the barren he maketh to keepe house to bee a ioyfull mother of children , then God shall haue glory , wee comfort , you profit .

Magistrates . But since I haue begun to speake , let me say on . May it not be said of some of our Magistrates executing of Iustice , Quorum primus impetus plus erat quam virorum , secundus minus quam fo●minarum . as is said of the Frenchmens fight ? At the first stronger then men , at the last weaker then women . Our Lawes the Axe-tree of our estate , on whose firmenesse wee mooue , vpon whose bosome the Church leanes , or either are as a rusty clocke that goes not , often time for flourishing , not for fight . If lawes be put in execution , alas , but for a while , we may say as Fabias said of Hannibals Armie , Ad specimen non ad vulnus Cic. de orat . like a fire of straw , makes a great blaze , but is quickely out : like the leaping of the locust that flirts vp a little , and quickly downe , Locustarum saltus Greg. Moral . l. 31. or as the Planets in their Epicycles , sometimes ascending , and sometimes descending .

Let not prophannesse get the vpper hand , nor Popery nor carnall security , which as Prometheus his vulture eate out the heart of Religion , wee may feare , wee may say of them as men doe of snow when it melts not , that it lies for more . For Gods sake you that are our Herculesses against these Gyants , bring downe her that sits as a Queene , let not the people say of you , as men doe of a dead Hawke , a good one if she were aliue . Let your faith out-looke your eyes , and march on valiantly .

As for vs Ministers , Ministers . we should be knowne as Aarons rod was , by blossomming and fruit , and like Nabuchadnezzars Ouen , seauen-times hotter then others . God would haue his messengers as an Emperour would haue his wife , without fault , or suspicion of fault . We should haue life in our doctrine , and doctrine in our life ; but we haue many like a Rauen , cryes on euery steeple East , West , North and South , but hauing got her prey she lies downe vnder a sunny banke , and yee heare no more of her ; so many Preachers spare no paines in season and out of season , till they be warme in some fat Parsonage , then like Demas , they embrace this present world : as the Eagle they flie high , and haue no eye to their nest . Psal. 137.5.6 . It is a iudgement when the tongue cleaues to the roofe of the mouth . When like the Storke , haue a sweet voyce being yong , but a hoarse one in old age , they either Preach not at all , or as lightning , onely flasheth , but warmes not , and truely how can it be that the cold can warme others , and he that is dead can quicken others ?

To end with priuate men . Priuate Christians . How many Professors of Religion , with Lots wife haue lookt backe ? let these know that many set out of Egypt , that neuer saw the land of Canaan : some like Iohn march furiously , yet sit downe and catch cold , and fall into a consumption . Some now and then smite sinne a little , as a mother doth a childe that shames her , but loue it well enough ; others wound sinne a little but will not kill it . When Elisha bad Ioash take his arrowes & smite on the ground , and be smote thrice and staid . The man of God was wrath , 2 King 13.19 . and said , thou shouldest haue smitten fiue or sixe times , then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it : So if men would but giue their corruption more deadly wounds , they need not be like a Hackney , that tires in the heate of the day , or a dull Asses trot , that will not last long , or like the children of Ephraim , are armed , and carry bowes , yet turne backe in the day of battell ; yea , deale vnfaithfully , and turne aside like a deceitfull bow . Psal 78.9 . We must tell to these sinking-downe estates , that little decayes will proue great breaches ; slidings leade to fallings ; indifferency to sencelesnesse .

The more a man is inlightened , the worse hee is falling backe . A candle neuer enlightened smels not , but being enlightened , and blowne out , then it stinkes . The back-sliders in the seauenth persecution , Fox Act. Mon. were punished with strange diseases and euill spirits . When Cranes flye backewards , it is a signe of a tempest . Aelian l. 3. c 13. There is nothing but soule weather towards , for him that hath broken couenant with God . When loue tokens are sent home , we say a match is broken . The Lord dwels not in that heart , that hath the goodnesse remoued out of it . When we come into the Kings Pallace , and see all the sumptuous Hangings taken downe ; we conclude the King is remouing of his lodging . When wee haue shouldred God out of our hearts , our case is miserable : It is a wondrous danger of a heate to take cold . The Nouatian heresie , a great sect , and many learned men were of them , held , that a reuolter could not bee receiued againe : howsoeuer I abhorre their bleare-eyed error , because I here God say , Returne O back sliding Israel , Ier. 3.2 . yet neuerthelesse there is such intricate turnings , and Meandry windings , that few returne ; none without much sorrow and smart : Hierome . Origens lamentation is wofull , and may affright a faller-backe : such mens consciences , as a broken legge , wil paine in ill weather . Yet O Lord there is mercy with thee , that thou maist be feared . The chiefe Physitian of the soule hath scored vs out a way for deliuery , Reu. 2.5 . first , Remember whence thou art fallen : secondly , Repent , cry out against this sinne , hate it , loathe it : lastly , and doe thy first worke : neuer rest till thou hast got thy former strength .