Christian perfection to be attained by degrees. [ 1246]
MEteors,* 1.1 soon after their first appearing, make the greatest shew; A Fire of thorns, as soon as it is kindled, gives the fairest blaze, and makes the most noise and crackling, and both of them decrease by little and little, till they disappear, whereas the Morning light shineth more and more unto the perfect day.* 1.2 Mushromes come to their perfection in one nights growth, but trees of Righteousnesse of Gods right planting, are still in growth, and bring forth most fruit in old age, Psal. 92. 14. Summer-fruits are soon ripe, and soon rotten; but Winter-fruits last longer: Infants in the Womb that make more haste then good speed, prove abortive; whereas those that stay their time, come to their growth by degrees: And thus it is, that we must think to aspire unto Perfection, but in a graduall way; not imagine, that we can the first day, & in the beginning of our first conversion attain unto it; For as, Nemo repentè fit pessimus, No Man is made the worst at the first;* 1.3 so, Nemo repentè fit optimus, No Man is made the best all at once; which made a good old Christian cry out, Nolo repentè fieri summus, &c. I would not upon the suddain attain to my highest pitch, but grow towards it by little and little;* 1.4 Nondum apprehendi, I have not yet attained, (sayes the bles∣sed Doctor of the Gentiles) but I presse hard forward, &c. and so must we, from knowledge to knowledg,* 1.5 from virtue to vertue, from Faith to Faith, from one degree of grace to another, unto a perfect Man, and unto the measure of the stature of the fullnesse of Christ, Ephes. 4. 13.