A41536:116
The trial of a Christians growth in mortification, purging out corruption, or vivification, bringing…The tryall of a Christians growth in mortification, purging out corruption, or vivification, bringing…
The trial of a Christians growth in mortification, purging out corruption, or vivification, bringing forth more fruit a treatise handling this case, how to discern our growth in grace : affording some helps rightly to judge thereof by resolving some tentations, clearing some mistakes, answering some questions, about spiritual growth : together with other observations upon the Parable of the vine, John 15. 1, 2 verses / by Tho. Goodwin.The tryall of a Christians growth in mortification, purging out corruption, or vivification, bringing forth more fruit a treatise handling this case, how to discerne our growth in grace : affording some helps rightly to judge thereof by resolving some tentations, clearing some mistakes, answering some questions, about spiritual growth : together with other observations upon the Parable of the vine, John 15. 1, 2 verses / by Tho. Goodwin.
London: printed by J.G. for R. Dawlman, 1650
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, they are cast forth, that is, out of the hearts of Gods people, out of their company, out of their prayers, yea and out of their society by excommunication often, and many times they cast out themselves, being given up to such errors, as discover them to be unsound: As Hymenaeus and Philetus, they were forward Professors, so that their fall was like to have shaken many of the fruitful branches, in so much that the Apostle was fain to make an Apology about their fall, Nevertheless the foundation of God remains sure, 2 Tim. 2. 18. God gave them up to such opinions and heresies, as discovered their hearts to be rotten and unsound: So also he gives these carnal professors up to such sins as will discover them. This was the case of Cain, he brought forth some fruit, for he sacrificed; yet because not in sincerity, he envied his brother, and was given up to murder his brother, upon which it is said, that He was cast out of the sight of the Lord, Gen. 4. 16. that is, cast out of his Fathers family, and from the Ordinances of God there enjoyed, and made a vagabond upon the face of the whole earth, which of all curses is the greatest: or else, as was said, they of their own accord forsake the assembly of the Saints. The Apostle makes this a step to the sin against the holy Ghost, Heb. 10. 25. he saith, That when men forsake the assemblies and company of the people of God, public and private, and love not to quicken and stir up one another, or begin to be shy of those they once accompanied, they are in a nigh degree to that which follows in the next verse, To sin wilfully after they have received the knowledge of the truth.
First, they are cast forth, that is, out of the hearts of Gods people, out of their company, out of their prayers, yea and out of their society by excommunication often, and many times they cast out themselves, being given up to such errors, as discover them to be unsound: As Hymenaeus and Philetus, they were forward Professors, so that their fall was like to have shaken many of the fruitfull branches, in so much that the Apostle was faine to make an Apologie about their fall, Neverthelesse the foundation of God remains sure, 2 Tim. 2. 18. God gave them up to such opinions and heresies, as discovered their hearts to be rotten and unsound: So also he gives these carnall professors up to such sinnes as will discover them. This was the case of Cain, he brought forth some fruit, for he sacrificed; yet because not in sincerity, he envied his brother, and was given up to murther his brother, upon which it is said, that He was cast out of the sight of the Lord,