Of INCREASE of GRACE

1. What do you understand by [increase of grace]?

The gradual advances which the saints are helped to make, in the exercise of grace, and experimental godliness.

2. Whereunto is the increase of grace compared in scripture?

Unto the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

3. What is the spring or cause of the believer’s growth?

Union with Christ, John 15:4 and participation of vital influences from him. Colossians 2:19

4. Why is it so ordered, that believers shall grow in grace?

Because there is a particular stature, at which every member of the mystical body is appointed to arrive, even the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

5. How doth growth in grace flow from justification?

In as much as the justified person is delivered from a legal incapacity to grow, Psalm 116:16 and is made free and unfettered for the service of God. Galatians 5:1

6. How doth it flow from adoption?

In as much as the sincere milk of the word is desired by the new born babes, that they may grow thereby.

7. How doth it flow from sanctification?

In as much as the image of God, drawn upon the soul, is, in sanctification, carried on to a nearer conformity, till we shall be perfectly like him, when we shall see him as he is.

8. Do believers grow in grace at all times?

They have a principle of growth, the seed of God remaining in them; 1 John 3:9 but they do not grow at all times: they have their winters, Song of Solomon 2:11 wherein the influences of grace, necessary for growth, are ceased. Song of Solomon 5:2

9. Whence is it that the believer’s growth ceases at any time?

Faith being like the pipe, that received the oil from the bowl to each lamp in the candlestick; Zechariah 4:2 if that pipe be stopt, or the saint’s faith lie dormant and inactive, then all the rest of the graces will also languish and decay. Psalm 27:13

10. How is growth in grace revived, after the languishings and decays thereof?

The pipe of faith remaining still at the fountain, as a bond of union betwixt Christ and the soul, the Lord Jesus clears this mean of conveyance, and then the influences for growth flow, and the believer’s graces look fresh and green again, “They that dwell under his shadow shall return, they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine.”

11. Since the tares have their growth as well as the wheat, Matth. xiii. 26. how shall we distinguish betwixt the growth of hypocrites, and the growth of the true Christian?

The distinction lies in the nature of the growth: the growth of the true Christian is regular and proportionable in all the parts of the new man; it is a growing up into him in all things, which is the head: Ephesians 4:15 whereas, hypocrites, when they get more knowledge into their heads, and no more holiness into their hearts, they may be more taken up with the externals of religion than formerly, and yet as great strangers to the power of godliness as ever. 2 Timothy 3:5

12. What are the several ways in which believers grow at once?

They grow inwardly and outwardly; upward and downward.

13. How do believers grow inwardly?

By uniting more closely to Christ, and cleaving more firmly unto him as the head of influences, which is the spring of all other true Christian growth.

14. How do they grow outwardly?

By being fruitful in good works in their life and conversation.

15. How do they grow upward?

In heavenly-mindedness, and contempt of the world, “Our conversation is in heaven.”

16. How do they grow downward?

In humility and self-abasement: the branches of the largest growth in Christ, are, in their own eyes, less than the least of all saints; Ephesians 3:8 yea, the chief of sinners: 1 Timothy 1:15 they see that they can do nothing; 2 Corinthians 3:5 that they deserve nothing; Genesis 32:10 and that they are nothing. 2 Corinthians 12:11

17. May not Christians mistake their case, by measuring their growth in one of these ways, exclusively of the rest of them?

Yes: if, for instance, they measure it upwards, and not at all downwards; for, though a Christian may want the sweet consolations and flashes of affection, which sometimes he has had, yet, if he be growing in humility, self-denial, and a sense of needy dependence on the Lord Jesus, he is a growing Christian, “I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall—cast forth his roots as Lebanon.”

18. When believers cannot perceive their growth, how may they know if they have true grace at all, however weak?

If they have any measure of self-loathing on account of sin; Ezekiel 36:31 if they have a desire of grace; Nehemiah 1:11 if they prize Christ above all things; Philippians 3:8 and if they love his members for his sake. 1 John 5:1