God's heart is full of love, whilst the face of providence is full of frowns. - John Flavel, Works IV 426, The Mystery of Providence.p.133
The illustrations and metaphors of scripture for Christian progress are generally horticultural and not in any sense mechanical. Consequently the development and growth of Christian grace and piety are not something, to be anticipated with mechanical regularity. Like a plant the Christian grows not my constant equal stages of development , 'but but by sudden gusts and motions ... so the growth of believers consists principally in some intense, vigorous actings of grace on great occasions. - Sinclair B Ferguson, Some pastors and teachers, p.269 quoting John Owen, Works III 397
He who was eternally in the form of God, -- that is, was essentially
so, God by nature, equally participant of the same divine nature with
God the Father; "God over all, blessed for ever;" who humbleth himself
to behold the things that are in heaven and earth, -- he takes on him
the nature of man, takes it to be his own, whereby he was no less truly
a man in time than he was truly God from eternity. And to increase the
wonder of this mystery, because it was necessary unto the end he
designed, he so humbled himself in this assumption of our nature, as to
make himself of no reputation in this world, -- yea, unto that degree,
that he said of himself that he was a worm, and no man, in comparison
of them who were of any esteem.- - John Owen, Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ p.229
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