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say； 〃Lord； when saw we Thee an hungred； and fed Thee？〃 （Matt。 xxv。
37。） Extremes do indeed meet strangely sometimes。 The
conscience…hardened sinner and the eminent saint are in one respect
singularly alike。 Neither of them fully realizes his own condition。 The
one does not see his own sin； nor the other his own grace！
But shall I say nothing to growing Christians？ Is there no word of
counsel I can address to them？ The sum and substance of all that I can
say is to be found in two sentences： 〃Go forward！〃 〃Go on！〃
We can never have too much humility； too much faith in Christ； too much
holiness； too much spirituality of mind； too much charity； too much
zeal in doing good to others。 Then let us be continually forgetting the
things behind； and reaching forth unto the things before。 （Phil。 iii。
13。） The best of Christians in these matters is infinitely below the
perfect pattern of his Lord。 Whatever the world may please to say； we
may be sure there is no danger of any of us being 〃too good。〃
Let us cast to the winds as idle talk the mon notion that it is
possible to be 〃extreme〃 and go 〃too far〃 in religion。 This is a
favourite He of the devil； and one which he circulates with vast
industry。 No doubt there are enthusiasts and fanatics to be found who
bring evil report upon Christianity by their extravagances and follies。
But if any one means to say that a mortal man can be too humble； too
charitable； too holy； or too diligent in doing good； he must either be
an infidel or a fool。 In serving pleasure and money it is easy to go
too far。 But in following the things which make up true religion； and
in serving Christ there can be no extreme。
Let us never measure our religion by that of others； and think we are
doing enough if we have gone beyond our neighbours。 This is another
snare of the devil。 Let us mind our own business。 〃What is that to
thee？〃 said our Master on a certain occasion： 〃Follow thou Me。〃 （John
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