which from a slender plant shoots up and strengthens year after year, till it becomes a broad-spreading, deep-rooted, lofty, and durable tree. Or, it may be compared to the growth of the human body, which insensibly advances from infancy to childhood, from childhood to youth, and from youth to matured manhood. In allusion to this, we read of some who are babes in grace, who need to be fed with milk, and not with strong meat; of others who are young men, strong and active in the Christian life; and of others who are fathers in Christ, matured in knowledge, experience, and gracious attainments. In all these the progress towards maturity is imperceptible. Though the oak grows in summer every day, we cannot discern its increase in any short period. Though the child, while in health, is daily advancing to manhood, we cannot observe the progress in a little time. It is only by comparing the present appearance, in either case, with what the former was some considerable time ago, that we are able distinctly to mark the difference. Our blessed Redeemer beautifully illustrates this in one of his parables: "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear."* After the seed is sown, the husbandman, attentive though he be, cannot see its increase, except by waiting patiently, and

• Mark iv. 26-28.

comparing its present with its former appearance. Precisely in the same way is the Christian to ascertain his growth in grace. Comparing what he now is, with what he was during past months and years, he may easily know his progress in the divine life.

8. Growth in grace is usually most discernible in the early stages of the Christian life.-Particularly this is the case with persons who have arrived to years of maturity, before they are brought under the saving operations of the Holy Spirit. The transition which they experience in coming from darkness into God's marvellous light, is often accompanied with much sensible joy, and the change effected in their views and practice is often striking: especially it is so when their previous conduct has been marked with gross blemishes, and they have been long kept under painful convictions, and the awful terrors of the condemnatory sentence of Jehovah's law. Their deliverance is frequently attended with more lively and sensible transport of soul, than perhaps they ever afterwards experience in any stage of their pilgrimage; and their progress in the way of holiness, into which they have just entered, cannot pass unnoticed. The Ethiopian eunuch, immediately after his conversion, went on his way rejoicing. And concerning the first converts at Thessalonica, Paul thus testifies, "Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost."* Animated with gra

Thess. i. 5, 6.

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titude for the marvellous grace which has snatched them from destruction, they are commonly lively, vigorous, active, and zealous in the work of the Lord. They would desire, if possible, to be employed in nothing else but religious duties; and sometimes, that they may have more leisure for them, are prone for a season to neglect their lawful worldly concerns. Indeed, so rapid does their progress in the way to heaven appear, that it might be thought they would soon arrive to Christian perfection.

But after they have advanced farther in the Christian life, and have felt its difficulties, and experienced their own weakness, their first ardour begins to abate, and their exalted joy is considerably diminished. In such circumstances, comparing their present experience with that of their early days, they often are much cast down, and judge unfavourably respecting their state. They conclude that, so far from growing in grace, they are become in a great measure stationary, if they be not actually going backwards. Should they, however, have no other reason for this conclusion except the want of that early liveliness and comfort, it is no certain evidence that they are in a declining condition. On the contrary, their graces may be maturing apace; and they may be advancing surely, though with less perceptible speed, to the stature of perfect men in Christ.

9. The Christian may grow in some graces, and but little in others.-The Christian graces, or fruits of the Spirit, are inseparable. Where any one of them certainly exists, the rest cannot be totally wanting. In no child of God, however, do they

exist all in an equal degree of strength and maturity. Some of them who are eminently distinguished for one gracious attainment, are to a considerable degree defective in another. He who excels in humility, may be deficient in fortitude; and he who is eminent in zeal, may be wanting in patience.Besides, the circumstances in which God's children are placed, and the dispensations of Providence with which they are visited, are obviously calculated to exercise and improve some of their graces more than others. Great and long continued worldly prosperity is usually very unfavourable to growth in any grace. Adversity, and spiritual tribulations of various kinds, on the contrary, are commonly employed by God to promote his people's advancement in humility, patience, heavenly mindedness, and meetness for heaven.

Taking all these considerations into account, it were vain for any saint to expect, to find in himself the evidences of his growing equally in every grace. With respect to some of them, he may be incapable of discerning them at all, from their not being particularly called into action, in the circumstances in which he is placed; and much less can he perceive tokens of their increase. But if any grace be certainly in a thriving state, and if the general symptoms of advancement in holiness be perceived in our temper and practice, we are as certainly growing Christians, as if we could trace every feature of increasing meetness for the celestial kingdom.

10. Progress in growth in grace is exceedingly

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various, but is usually proportioned to Christian diligence. It is various in different Christians. Some of them make rapid progress compared with others. Even among those who live in the same family, attend the same ministrations of the gospel, and to all appearance are equally favoured with the same advantages for improvement, the difference is often exceedingly great. In the language of our Lord,: some bring forth thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold." Consequently, no one ought to judge of his own growth in grace by that of others. If they far excel him, he may be ready to conclude, contrary to truth, that he has no grace, or at least that he is making no advancement in a life of holiWhereas if they be greatly inferior to him, in a proportionable degree he may flatter himself to his spiritual hurt.

ness.

Besides, growth in grace is not only various in different Christians, favoured seemingly with the same advantages; but also in the same Christian at different times. They who advance slowly during one season, at another may "revive as the corn, and grow as the vine." There is no child of God who. basks always under a summer's sun. Every one of them has his winter seasons also,-seasons in which he is cold and benumbed, stripped of his liveliness and activity, and deprived of his wonted strength and comfort. During such seasons, though the life of the divine principle is not extinguished, yet its progress may be arrested. Or if it continue to grow, its progress must be so extremely slow,