the text there is an elegant comparison of two things like to one another. Wherein we have,

1. The subjects of the comparison, the path of the just, and the shining light.

(1.) The subject compared, the path of the just. The just, in the language of the Old Testament, are those who are justified by faith, Hab. ii. 4. The just shall live by his faith. They are a travelling company, going towards Canaan; they have a path or way wherein they go, and they make a progress in it. The word here used signifies, (1.) The progress itself, or course in the way, as Job vi. 18. "The paths of their way are turned aside.' Isa. xxvi. 8. In the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee.' (2.) The place or way through which one goes, The thing meant is the gracious and holy life of the just.

(2.) The subject it is compared to, the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. It is compared to light, both because it is comfortable to themselves, and instructive, exciting to others, and honourable. It is not like the light of a meteor, that shines a while, and then disappears quickly; nor that of a candle, which burns and burns down till it wastes itself; but like the light of the sun, and not the evening-sun, that declineth, but the morning-sun, that with increasing brightness and heat advances to the meridian.

2. The points of the comparison. (1.) As that light is a growing light shining more and more; so is the grace of God in a soul, going from one degree to another. (2.) As it does not go out, but grows on to the perfect day; so grace never dies out, but goes on till it be perfected in glory. DOCT. Increase of grace, and perseverance, are benefits flowing from or accompanying justification.'

I. Of Increase or Growth of Grace.

Here I shall shew,

1. That real grace doth increase or grow.

2. How a Christian grows in grace.

3. The causes of this growth.

4. The difference betwixt true and false growth.

5. Whether true grace grows always.

6. Apply.

FIRST, I am to shew that real grace doth increase or grow. This is evident from three things.

1. Scripture-testimony. Grace is a holy seed that springs and grows, Mark iv. 27; however little at first, like a grain of mustard seed, Matth. xiii. 31, 32; like leaven, ver. 33. God has promised it, Psal. xcii. 12. Mal. iv. 2. But unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall forth and grow up as calves of the stall."

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2. God has appointed a certain stature that his children shall grow to, Eph. iv. 13. This is the perfection of grace. Hence the Christian is first a little child, then a young man, then a father, 1 John ii. 13. They walk, they run, they fly, they mount like eagles, Isa. xl. ult.

3. This is the end of divine influences, Isa. xxvii. 3. and xliv. 3, 4. It is also the effect of divine ordinances, Eph. iv. 11, 12. It is the end of all the pains of the heavenly Husbandman on the plants of his vineyard.

SECONDLY, I shall shew how a Christian grows in grace. He grows four ways.

1. Inward, into Christ, as the branch doth into the stock, Eph. iv. 15. Cleaving to him, and knitting with him more firmly, his faith grows stronger, 2 Thess. i. 9; his love more vigorous, his hope firmer, his dependence closer, &c. This is the spring of all other Christian increase in grace.

2. Outward, in good works, in all the parts of a holy life, piety towards God, and righteousness towards men, Gen. xlix. 22. The growing Christian advances in the work of his salvation, Phil. ii. 12; in the work of his regeneration, Acts xiii. 36. He goes on in the fruits of a holy life, for God's honour, his own good, and for the good and advantage of his fellow Christians, knowing that he is not born for himself.

3. Upward, in a heavenly disposition, Phil. iii. 20. The end of his journey that he is aiming at is the world; upper and as he is coming out of this world, in action so he is coming out of it in affection, Cant. viii. 5. He grows more heavenly in his desires, joys, delights, griefs, sorrows, &c.

4. Lastly, Downward in humility, self-denial, self-loathing, resignation to the will of the Lord, &c. The more religion prevails, there are always more of these graces, Job xlii. 5,6. Psal. xxii. 6. 2 Cor. xii. 11. For the more grace there is, there is the more knowledge of God and one's self; which are two boundless depths, the one of glory, the other of sin.

THIRDLY, I shall shew the causes of this growth.

1. Union with Christ, John xv. 4. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me.' He that is not united to Christ can never grow in grace, more than a branch that does not knit with the stock. But where the Lord takes hold of the soul by his Spirit, and the soul takes hold of Christ by faith, there is an union whereby they become mem. bers of Christ, and their growth is secured.

2. Communion with Christ, John vi. 57. "He that eateth me, even he shall live by me.' He is the fountain of the saints life, who gives it them, and more abundantly. He is the head of influences, by which they are made to increase in grace, as the sap from the root and stock makes the branches to grow. And this communion they have with him,

(1.) In ordinances, public, private, and secret, so that they are made to grow by the fatness of his house, Psal. xcii. 13. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God.' The word edifies them, Isa. lv. 10, 11. The sacraments strengthen and confirm them, as they did the eunuch, who went on his way rejoicing, Acts viii. 39. Prayer and other holy exercises profit them, to their spiritual increase. But all by the influences of his Spirit in them, Isa. xliv. 3, 4.

(2.) In providences. Mercies are blessed to them for this end, Isa. Ixvi. 11, 12. crosses, John xv. 2. Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.' And often have the people of God grown most under the weight of afflictions. But this also is by communion with Christ in them, Phil. i. 19. I know that this shall turn to my salvation-through the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.'

FOURTHLY, I proceed to shew the difference betwixt true and false growth. As hypocrites may have seeming grace, though not real, so that seeming grace may grow, Mat. xiii. 5. There is a twofold difference.

1. True Christian growth is universal, Eph. iv. 15. False growth is only in some particular things. The true Christian grows in all the parts of spiritual life proportionably; for all graces of the Spirit are linked together, so that when one grows, they all grow. Such a difference there is betwixt them as betwixt a well thriving child and a rickety one.

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The former grows proportionably in all the parts, the body, legs, arms, &c. The other grows too, but grows not so; the head grows big, but the body grows not. So the hypocrite may get more knowledge, but no more tenderness, ho liness, &c. He is not outwardly, but inwardly cold, as to the life of religion.

2. The hypocrite soon comes to a stand, the Christian goes on to perfection, Luke viii. 14. Phil. iii. 13, 14. They have their measure; and when they have come to that, they stand like the door on the hinges; but the true Christian is going on, labouring to be holy as God is holy, 1 John iii. 3. 'Every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.'

FIFTHLY, I am to shew, whether true grace grows

ways.

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1. It does not always grow, nor at every particular season. It has its winters and decays, as well as its spring and grow. ing times, Rev. ii. 4. 'I have somewhat against thee, be cause thou hast left thy first love.' Yet,

2. It never decays utterly, 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God, his seed remaineth in him.' The flame of it may go out, but there is always a live-coal left, though under the ashes, which the influences of the Spirit will blow up again. It will not always be winter, Hos xiv. 7. They that dwell under his shadow shall return, they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine.'

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3. A Christian may be growing, and yet not be sensible of it. If one judge of his case by present feeling, he may mistaken, Mark iv. 27. If one fix his eyes on the sun, or a tree, he cannot perceive the one moving, or the other grow. ing. But compare the tree with what it was some years ago, the place where the sun now is, with where it was in the morning; so shall ye know the remarkable difference. And the very same difference may be observed in the growth of a Christian.

Again, the growth is not to be measured only by the top, but by the root too. If a tree be taking with the ground, and spreading its roots there, it is surely growing. And though Christians may want the consolations and flashes of affections they sometimes had; yet if they be growing in tenderness, humility, self-denial, &c. it is true Christian growth.

Inf. 1. This may cause fear and trembling to,

1. Apostates, who instead of growing are gone back to their former courses of profaneness and impiety. Fallen stars were never stars but in appearance, and fearful will be their doom, Heb. x. 38. If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.'

2. Those who are at a stand in the way of religion. They have come up to a form of godliness, and they are like the door on the hinges. They are not striving to be forward in mortification.

3. Those who are growing worse instead of growing better. They are like dead trees; summer and winter is alike to them; they are never the better for all the warnings from the Lord's word or providence: but whatever God says by providences or ordinances, they go on their own way, adding one sinful step to another.

Inf. 2. Improve ordinances for spiritual growth. O! it is sad to be sitting under means of grace, but never growing. This is the ready way to provoke the Lord to remove ordinances.

Inf. 3. Let the least spark of true grace be nourished, for it will grow, Isa. xlii. 3.

Inf. 4. Lastly, Labour to be growing Christians.

II. OF PERSEVERANCE IN GRACE.

• Perseverance in grace is another benefit flowing from, or accompanying justification.'

Here I shall shew,

1. What this perseverance is.

2. How it is to be understood.

3. That the saints shall persevere to the end.

4. What are those things which make hypocrites fall away, but over the belly of which saints persevere. 5. The grounds of the perseverance of the saints. 6. The means of perseverance.

7. Lastly, Apply.

FIRST, I shall shew what this perseverance is. To persevere is, to continue and abide in a state into which one is brought. And this perseverance is a firm and constant continuance in the state of grace, even to the end of one's life,