xxi。 22。） Let us follow on； aiming at nothing short of perfection。 Let
us follow on； making Christ's life and character our only pattern and
example。 Let us follow on； remembering daily that at our best we are
miserable sinners。 Let us follow on； and never forget that it signifies
nothing whether we are better than others or not。 At our very best we
are far worse than we ought to be。 There will always be room for
improvement in us。 We shall be debtors to Christ's mercy and grace to
the very last。 Then let us leave off looking at others and paring
ourselves with others。 We shall find enough to do if we look at our own
hearts。
Last； but not least； if we know anything of growth in grace； and desire
to know more； let us not be surprised if we have to go through much
trial and affliction in this world。 I firmly believe it is the
experience of nearly all the most eminent saints。 Like their blessed
Master they have been 〃men of sorrows； acquainted with grief；〃 and
〃perfected through sufferings。〃 （Isa。 liii。 3； Heb。 ii。 10。） It is a
striking saying of our Lord； 〃Every branch in Me that beareth fruit； my
Father purgeth it； that it may bring forth more fruit。〃 （John xv。 2。）
It is a melancholy fact； that constant temporal prosperity； as a
general rule； is injurious to a believer's soul。 We cannot stand it。
Sickness； and losses； and crosses； and anxieties； and disappointments
seem absolutely needful to keep us humble； watchful； and
spiritual…minded。 They are as needful as the pruning knife to the vine；
and the refiner's furnace to the gold。 They are not pleasant to flesh
and blood。 We do not like them； and often do not see their meaning。 〃No
chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous； but grievous：
nevertheless； afterward； it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness。〃 （Heb。 xii。 11。） We shall find that all worked for our
good when we reach heaven。 Let these thoughts abide in our minds； if we
love growth in grace。 When days of darkness e upon us； let us not
count it a strange thing。 Rather let us remember that lessons are
learned on such days which would never have been learned in sunshine。
Let us say to ourselves； 〃This also is for my profit； that I may be a
partaker of God's holiness。 It is sent in love。 I am in God's best
school。 Correction is instruction。 This is meant to make me grow。〃
I leave the subject of growth in grace here。 I trust I have said enough
to set some readers thinking about it。 All things are growing older：
the world is growing old； we ourselves are grow…older。 A few more
summers； a few more winters； a few more sicknesses； a few more sorrows；
a few more weddings； a few more funerals； a few more meetings； and a
few more partings； and then what？ Why the grass will be growing over
our graves！
Now would it not be well to look within； and put to our souls a simple
question？ In religion； in the things that concern our peace； in the
great matter of personal holiness； are we getting on？ DO WE GROW？
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＇10＇ 〃True grace is progressive； of a spreading； growing nature。 It is
with grace as it is with light： first； there is the day…break； then it
shines brighter to the full noon…day。 The saints are not only pared
to stars for their light； but to trees for their growth； （Isa。 lxi。 3；
Hos。 xiv。 5。） A good Christian is not like Hezekiah's sun that went
backwards； nor Joshua's sun that stood still； but is always advancing
in holiness； and increasing with the increase of God。〃Thomas Watson；
Minister of St。 Stephen's Walbrook； 1660。 （Body of Divinity。）
＇11＇ 〃The growth of grace is the best evidence of the truth of grace。
Things that have not life will not grow。 A picture will not grow。 A
stake in a hedge will not grow。 But a plant that hath vegetative life
will grow。 The growing of grace shows it to be alive in the soul。〃T。
Watson； 1660。
＇12＇ 〃Christian； as ever you would stir up others to exalt the God of
grace； look to the exercise and improvement of your own graces。 When
poor servants live in a family； and see the faith； and love； and
wisdom； and patience； and humility of a master； shining like the stars
in heaven； it draws forth their hearts to bless the Lord that ever they
came into such a family。When men's graces shine as Moses' face did；
when their life； as one speaketh of Joseph's life； is a very heaven；
sparkling with virtues as so many bright stars； how much others are
stirred up to glorify God； and cry； These are Christians indeed！ these
are an honour to their God； a crown to their Christ； and a credit to
their Gospel！ Oh； if they were all such； we would be Christians
too！〃T。 Brooks； 1661。 （Unsearchable Riches。）
＇13＇ 〃The right manner of growth is to grow less in one's own eyes。 I
am a worm and no man。' （Psa。 xxii。 6。） The sight of corruption and
ignorance makes a Christian grow into a dislike of himself。 He doth
vanish in his own eyes。 Job abhorred himself in the dust。 （Job xlii。
6。） This is good； to grow out of conceit with oneself。〃T。 Watson。
1660。
＇14＇ 〃It is a sign of not growing in grace； when we are less troubled
about sin。 Time was when the least sin did grieve us （as the least hair
makes the eye weep）； but now we can digest sin without remorse。 Time
was when a Christian was troubled if he neglected closet prayer； now he
can omit family prayer。 Time was when vain thoughts did not trouble
him； now he is not troubled for loose practices。 There is a sad
declension in religion； and grace is so far from growing that we can
hardly perceive its puke to beat。〃T。 Watson。 1660。
＇15＇ 〃If now you would be rich in graces； look to your walking。 It is
not the knowing soul； nor the talking soul； but the close…walking soul；
the obedient soul； that is rich。 Others may be rich in notions； but
none so rich in spiritual experience； and in all holy and heavenly
graces； as close…walking Christians。〃T。 Brooks。 1661。 〃It is a sign
of not growing in grace； when we grow more worldly。 Perhaps once we
were mounted into higher orbits； we did set our hearts on things above；
and speak the language of Canaan。 But now our minds are taken off
heaven； we dig our forts out of these lower mines； and with Satan
pass the earth。 It is a sign we are going down hill apace； and our
grace is in a consumption。 It is observable when nature decays； and
people are near dying； they grow more stooping。 And truly when men's
hearts grow more stooping to the earth； and they can hardly lift up
themselves to an heavenly thought； if grace be not dead； yet it is
ready to die。〃T。 Watson。 1660。
＇16＇ 〃Experience will tell every Christian that the more strictly； and
closely； and constantly he walketh with God； the stronger he groweth in
duty。 Infused habits are advantaged by exercise。 As the fire that
kindled the wood for sacrifices upon the altar first came down from
heaven； but then was to be kept alive by the care and labour of the
priests； so the habits of spiritual grace are indeed infused from God；
and must be maintained by daily influences from God； yet with a
concurrence also of our own labours； in waiting upon God； and
exercising ourselves with godliness； and the more a Christian doth so
exercise himself； the more strong he shall grow。〃Collinges on
Providence。 1678。
＇17＇ 〃Let them be thy choicest panions； that have made Christ their
chiefest panion。 Do not so much eye the outsides of men as their
inside： look most to their internal worth。 Many persons have their eyes
upon the external garb of a professor。 But give me a Christian that
minds the internal worth of persons； that makes such as are most filled
with the fulness of God his choicest and chiefest panions。〃T。
Brooks。 1661。
＇18＇ 〃Christians may be growing when they think they do not grow。〃
There is that maketh himself poor； yet he is rich。' （Prov。 xiii。 7。）
The sight that Christians have of their defects in grace； and their
thirst after greater measures of grace； makes them think they do not
grow。 He who covets a great estate； because he hath not so much as he
desires thinks himself poor。〃T。 Watson。 1660。 〃Souls may be rich in
grace； and yet not know it； not perceive it。 The child is heir to a
crown or a great estate； but knows it not。 Moses' face did shine； and
others saw it； but he perceived it not。 So many a precious soul is rich
in grace； and others see it； and know it； and bless God for it； and yet
the poor soul perceives it not。Sometimes this arises from the soul's
strong desires of spiritual riches。 The strength of the soul's desires
after spiritual riches doth often take away the very sense of growing
spiritually rich。 Many covetous men's desires are so strongly carried
forth after earthly riches； that though they do grow rich； yet they
cannot perceive it； they cannot believe it。 It is just so wit