A41536:194
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.
otherwise what ever it be he doth by us, he will reward but according to our works, as concurrent with his. So 1 Cor. 3. 8. the Apostle upon this occasion intimates, that seeing it is God that gives the increase, he says, that God will reward men according to their [own labours;] not simply according to his works by them: as if God doth not go forth with a Minister, whose heart is much set to do good, and to convert souls, to do so much good by him as with another, who is in his own spirit less zealous; yet if his heart was large in desires, and his endeavours great to do good, God will reckon more fruit to him then to another ⟨p. 50⟩that had fewer endeavours, though more success.
otherwise what ever it be he doth by us, he will reward but according to our workes, as concurrent with his. So 1 Cor. 3. 8. the Apostle upon this occasion intimates, that seeing it is God that gives the increase, he sayes, that God will reward men according to their [own labours;] not simply according to his workes by them: as if God doth not goe forth with a Minister, whose heart is much set to doe good, and to convert soules, to doe so much good by him as with another, who is in his own spirit lesse zealous; yet if his heart was large in desires, and his endeavours great to doe good, God will reckon more fruit to him then to another ⟨p. 50⟩that had fewer endeavours, though more successe.
Thirdly,1 this growth in grace, and bringing forth more fruit, is not simply to be reckoned by the largeness or smallness of those opportunities which men have of doing more or less good, and so, By the bringing forth of more fruit, in respect of more opportunities vouchsafed. Some that have more grace, and better gifts, have their shop-windows shut, night overtakes them, and the power of darkness, as it did Christ himself in the end, and then they cannot work. Others have lesser shops to work in, and yet have more grace; yea, the same man may have larger opportunities when young, and lesser when he is old, and yet grows, and brings forth before God more fruit, because he accepts the will for the deed: So the Baptist was hindered in his latter time in prison, when yet he brought forth more fruit, and therefore he envied not Christ that got all his custom, his hearers and Disciples, but rejoiced that the work went forward, though not by himself: here was as much grace expressed, as in many Sermons. So Paul, he was much of his time in prison, yet then he ceased not to bring forth more fruit that should tend to his salvation, for