A41536:14
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.
AN INTRODUCTION.
AN INTRODƲCTION.
Some OBSERVATIONS premised upon this Parable of the VINE,
JOHN 15. 1, 2. I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
The sum and division of the words, and subject of this Discourse. A Fair and fruitful Parable this is, spread forth into many Branches. In which, under the pleasant shadow of a Vine, (upon occasion they had but newly been real partakers of his blood in the fruit of the Vine) Christ elegantly sets forth himself in his relation to his visible Church, and the estate of his Apostles, and in them, of all visible Professors to the end of the world: Showing withal under that similitude, ⟨p. 2⟩what his Father meant to do with Judas, now gone out to betray him; as with all other unfruitful branches like unto him, even cut them off, and throw them into the fire. But on the contrary, encouraging them, and all other fruitful branches, that they should still continue to abide in him, with promise, that they should yet bring forth more fruit. The Parable hath three Parts: 1. A Vine here is, of all the fairest, ver. 1. 2. A Husbandman, of all the carefullest. 3. The end of planting this Vine, fruitfulness.