A41536:178
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. When a man is converted late, as he that came into the Vineyard at the eleventh hour, was furnished with abilities to do as much as the rest, for they all received but a penny.
2. When a man is converted late, as he that came into the Vineyard at the eleventh hour, was furnished with abilities to doe as much as the rest, for they all received but a penny.
Secondly, in the manner of their growth, some have advantage of others.
1. Some grow without intermission, as that great Apostle, and the Colossians, who from the first day they heard of the Gospel, brought forth fruit, Col. 1. 15. Others have rubs, and for some time of their lives stand at a stay: And thus some do, presently after their first conversion, as the Church of Ephesus, who fell from her first love: 1Others in old age, as the Hebrews, who when for the time they might have taught others, were so far cast behind, that they had need be taught again the first principles of Religion. Measure therefore not so your growth by a piece of your lives, but by comparing your whole life together.
1. Some grow without intermission, as that great Apostle, and the Colossians, who from the first day they heard of the Gospell, brought forth fruit, Col. 1. 15. Others have rubs, and for some time of their lives stand at a stay: And thus some doe, presently after their first conversion, as the Church of Ephesus, who fell from her first love: