A41536:143
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.
Neither fifthly, is it a growth merely in bulk, but also in fruitfulness, and therefore he compares them to the Olive and the Vine, (so in that place of Hosea) which are of all trees the fruitfullest, and most useful to God and man, Judg. 9. 9, 13.
Neither fifthly, is it a growth meerly in bulk, but also in fruitfulnesse, and therefore he compares them to the Olive and the Vine, (so in that place of Hosea) which are of all trees the fruitfullest, and most usefull to God and man, Judg. 9. 9, 13.
But yet sixthly, trees have a flourishing time of it but for some while, during which, although they may be thus green and fruitful, yet in their age they wither and rot, and their leaves fall off, and their fruit decays: The holy Ghost therefore as preventing this exception to fall out in the Saints growth, he adds, Psal. 92. They bring forth fruit still in their old age: When nature begins to decay, yet grace renews its strength; which if it be wondered at, and how grace should grow and multiply, the soil of our hearts being a stepmother to it, From me, says Christ, is thy fruit found, ver. 8. of that 14. of Hosea. It is God that gives this increase, and I will be as the dew to Israel, ver. 5.
But yet sixtly, trees have a flourishing time of it but for some while, during which, although they may be thus green and fruitfull, yet in their age they wither and rot, and their leaves fall off, and their fruit decayes: The holy Ghost therefore as preventing this exception to fall out in the Saints growth, he addes, Psal. 92. They bring forth fruit still in their old age: When nature begins to decay, yet grace renewes its strength; which if it be wondred at, and how grace should grow and multiply, the soile of our hearts being a stepmother to it, From me, sayes Christ, is thy fruit found, ver. 8. of that 14. of Hosea. It is God that gives this increase, and I will be as the dew to Israel, ver. 5.