A41536:207
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.
Now the purpose I speak this for, is an help to discern our growth; for when God thus is leading us with farther light and affection to a larger apprehension of spiritual things, or to the trying new graces, so long we grow. Therefore Cant. 7. ult. the Church is said to lay up for her beloved [fruits new and old:] And Rom. 5. from patience a man is led to experience, from experience to hope. As wicked men are led on from one sin to another, and so grow worse and worse; so godly men from one grace to another: and when it is so with us, then we increase.
Now the purpose I speak this for, is an help to discerne our growth; for when God thus is leading us with farther light and affection to a larger apprehension of spirituall things, or to the trying new graces, so long we grow. Therefore Cant. 7. ult. the Church is said to lay up for her beloved [fruits new and old:] And Rom. 5. from patience a man is led to experience, from experience to hope. As wicked men are led on from one sinne to another, and so grow worse and worse; so godly men from one grace to another: and when it is so with us, then we encrease.
Secondly,1 when a man finds new degrees of the same grace added, and the fruits of them grow bigger and more plentiful; as when a mans love grows more fervent, as 1 Pet. 4. 8. when faith, from mans casting it self on Christ, comes to find sweetness in Christ, which is to eat his flesh, and drink his blood; and then from that grows further up to an assurance of faith, which is an addition to it: When any thing that was lacking in faith, (as the Apostle speaks,