A41536:173
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.
2. Because then the newness makes a great impression: One that begins anew to study any Art, his growth is sensible, because every thing he reads is new; when as afterwards in his reading he meets with the same thing again and again, and with new notions but now and then, and yet he studies, it may be harder, and learns what he knew before more perfectly, and adds new to his old.
2. Because then the newnesse makes a great impression: One that begins anew to study any Art, his growth is sensible, because every thing he reads is new; when as afterwards in his reading he meets with the same thing againe and againe, and with new notions but now and then, and yet he studies, it may be harder, and learns what he knew before more perfectly, and adds new to his old.
A fourth Consideration to discern thy growth,1 there must be time allowed; For the time, says the Apostle, they might have been teachers, Heb. 5. 12. implying, they must have had time to grow up to perfection. Christians do not grow discernably till after some space. The Sun goes up higher and higher, but we discern not its progress, till after an hours motion. Things most excellent, have the slowest growth; but rushes grow fast, but they are weaker kind of plants; herbs, and willows, and alder-trees grow fast, but full of pith; Oaks more slowly, yet more solidly, and in the end attain to a greater bulk.
A fourth Consideration to discern thy growth,1 there must be time allowed; For the time, sayes the Apostle, they might have been teachers, Heb. 5. 12. implying, they must have had time to grow up to perfection. Christians doe not grow discernably till after some space. The Sunne goes up higher and higher, but we discerne not its progresse, till after an hours motion. Things most excellent, have the slowest growth; but rushes grow fast, but they are weaker kind of plants; herbs, and willows, and alder-trees grow fast, but full of pith; Oakes more slowly, yet more solidly, and in the end attain to a greater bulk.