ersons before God. Now this should be specially guarded against,
lest their labour be in vain.

OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.

An objection or two must here also be removed. And 1. Some may say, that
though they have been labouring, and striving, and working now for some
long time, yet they can perceive no advancement; they are as far short
as ever.

_Ans_. Hath it not been found, that some have complained without cause?
Have not some complained of their unfruitfulness and want of growth,
that other good Christians would have thought themselves very happy, if
they had but advanced half so far as they saw them to have done?

But be it so, as it is alleged, what if the fault be their own? What if
the cause of this be, that they attempt things in their own strength,
leaning to their own understanding, or habits of grace, or means, &c.,
and that they do not go about duties with that single dependence on
Christ that is requisite, nor do they suck life, strength, and sap from
him, by faith through the promises, nor give themselves up to him by
faith, that he may work in them both to will and to do. Should not this
be seen, mourned for, and helped?

3. If all this shortcoming and disappointment cause them lie in the
dust, and humble themselves more and more before the Lord, the grace of
humiliation is growing, and that is no small advantage, to be growing
downward.

4. Withal, they would do well to hold on in duty, looking to Christ for
help, and rolling all difficulties on him, give themselves away to him,
as their head and Lord, and so continue their life of faith, or their
consenting to let Christ live in them by faith, or work in them by his
Spirit what is well-pleasing in his sight, and wait for the blessing and
fruit in God's own time.

_Next_, It will be objected, Though we might wait thus, yet how
unedifying are we unto others, when there appeareth no fruit of the
spirit of grace in us.

_Ans_. A Christian behaviour and deportment under the sense of
fruitlessness, expressing an holy submission of soul unto God, as
sovereign, much humility of mind before him, justifying of God, and
taking guilt to themselves, with a firm resolution, to wait on patiently
in the use of means appointed, cannot but be edifying to Christian
souls; such exercises being really the works and fruit of the spirit of
grace working within.

But, _thirdly_, some may say, How then are the promises of the covenant
made good?

_Ans_. 1. The same