Doctrine 10. The regenerate in the beginning; although they be truly faithfull, yet they have but a little taste of Gods goodnesse, they do not fully comprehend it.
This is gathered from the same words.
Reason 1. Because they are new borne babes, and therefore weake.
2. Because God useth to bring his children by degrees unto perfection; so that at first they do perceive but a part or the first fruits of his goodnesse, and afterwards they have the whole, as it were shed abroad in their hearts.
3. Because in the beginning they want that experience, whereby the goodnesse of God afterwards is made more perfectly knowne unto them.
4. Because oftentimes they are also somewhat negligent; whereby it comes to passe, that they do not use the meanes of grace with that affection as they ought, as it is intimated in the text, when they are stirred up to a more fervent desire of the word of God.
Vse 1. This may serve for consolation against those feares that arise sometimes in the soules of the godly, for that they have but a little measure of peace, joy, and the like fruits of the Spirit, whereby men perceive the goodnesse of God towards them: for they must understand that the faithfull do usually perceive but a little measure of this grace at the beginning.
2. For exhortation, so much the more to long for the state of perfection, and not to rest in these small beginnings.
Doctrine 11. That taste of the grace of God which we either now have, or formerly had, should stirre us up to desire and seeke after the same more and more.
This is gathered from the connexion of these words with those that went before.