A41536:192
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.
Again, decay in gifts, as in old age, doth not always hinder men from bringing forth more fruit. As, although they cannot remember a Sermon so well as they had wont, nor preach with that vigour, and vivacity, and quickness when they are old, nor be so active, stirring, forward, it follows not that they bring not forth more fruit. David when he was old, could not govern the Kingdom, nor do the Church that service he had done formerly, yet true fruit he might grow in, in regard of his personal carriage towards God for his own salvation. A Musician when he is young, is able to sing sweetlier then when he is old; or when his vigour decays, his joints grow lame, he cannot play as he had wont; yet still he may grow a better Musician, and have more skill, and set better. Affections, the quickness of them depends much upon bodily spirits.
Againe, decay in gifts, as in old age, doth not alwayes hinder men from bringing forth more fruit. As, although they cannot remember a Sermon so well as they had wont, nor preach with that vigour, and vivacity, and quicknesse when they are old, nor be so active, stirring, forward, it followes not that they bring not forth more fruit. David when he was old, could not governe the Kingdome, nor doe the Church that service he had done formerly, yet true fruit he might grow in, in regard of his personall carriage towards God for his own salvation. A Musitian when he is young, is able to sing sweetlier then when he is old; or when his vigour decayes, his joynts grow lame, he cannot play as he had wont; yet still he may grow a better Musitian, and have more skill, and set better. Affections, the quicknesse of them depends much upon bodily spirits.
Secondly,1 our bringing forth more fruit, it is not to be measured simply by our success towards others in the exercise of those gifts (though that be called fruit also: so Jer. 17. 10. they are called the fruit of our doings: there are our doings, and the fruits of our doings; that is, the success which our examples, or gifts, or graces, have upon others; and so the conversion of the souls of men by the Apostles is called by Christ their fruit,