A41536:198
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.
And yet sixthly,1 even in inward affections many be deceived: even there the party for Christ in appearance may be greater then in truth. So often in a young Christian, there is a greater army of affections mustered, but most of them but mercenaries: his affections are then larger, his joys greater, his sorrows violenter then afterwards: More of his heart joins in duties at first; but afterwards, though less, yet more spiritually and truly. The objects being then new, draw all after them; not only Spirit, or that new principle of grace is stirred then, but flesh also. The unregenerate part becomes a Temporary Believer ⟨p. 52⟩for a time, hath a work upon it per redundantiam, as an unregenerate man hath who is a Temporary: which work on the unregenerate part doth decay, as in Temporaries it doth, and grows less: not only godly sorrow is stirred to mourn for sin, but carnal sorrow being awakened by Gods wrath, joins also, and so makes the stream bigger. Infidelity it self, like Simon Magus, for a while believes. Whilst the things of grace are a wonder to a man, (as at first they are) presumption joins and eeks out faith; a great party in the heart cleaves by flattery, (as the phrase is in Daniel) and for by-ends, which after some progress fall off and faint in the way; and those lusts that over and above their true mortification were further cast into a swoon, begin again to revive. All this was resembled to us by the coming of the Children of Israel out of Egypt, when by those plagues in Egypt, and Moses his call, not only the Israelites, but even many of the Egyptians were wrought upon, and began out of self-love to fear the Lord, Exod. 9. 20. and so a mixed multitude, it is said, went out with the Israelites, Exod. 20. 38. to sacrifice to the Lord; but ere long, as Numb. 11. 4. this mixed multitude began to murmur, and to fall off: So at a mans first setting out, at his first conversion, mixed carnal affections, the unregenerate part, through the newness of the objects, and impression of Gods wrath, and heavenly ravishments, are wrought upon, and go out with the new Israel to sacrifice, but after a while these fall away, and then the number is less; but the true Israelites may be increased. Hence it is, that young Christians, (if they know their hearts) complain more of hypocrisy, and old Christians of deadness.