Growth in grace

(J.C. Ryle, "Growth in Grace" 1879)

"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 3:18

When I speak of growth in grace, I only mean an increase in the degree, size, strength, vigor and power—of the graces which the Holy Spirit plants in a believer's heart. I hold that every one of those graces admits of growth, progress and increase. I hold that repentance, faith, hope, love, humility, zeal, courage and the like, may be . . .
  little—or great,
  strong—or weak,
  vigorous—or feeble, and
may vary greatly in the same person at different periods of his life.

When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply that . . .
  his sense of sin is becoming deeper,
  his faith is becoming stronger,
  his hope is becoming brighter,
  his love is becoming more extensive,
  his spiritual-mindedness is becoming more marked,
  he feels more of the power of godliness in his own heart—and he manifests more of it in his life.