A41536:228
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.
1. That purging here intended, (which is indeed all one with Mortification, and emptying out sin out of our hearts and lives) is to be restrained here to the progress of a Christian in that work, and not as taking in with it that first work of mortification wrought at a mans first conversion: so as I intend not now to lay open to you the nature of mortification, and what it is, by way of Common place, but only intend to speak of Growth in it: for of that Christ speaks, because it is such a purging, as is after bringing forth some fruit, and whereof the end is to bring forth more fruit.
1. That purging here intended, (which is indeed all one with Mortification, and emptying out sin out of our hearts and lives) is to be restrained here to the progresse of a Christian in that work, and not as taking in with it that first work of mortification wrought at a mans first conversion: so as I intend not now to lay open to you the nature of mortification, and what it is, by way of Common place, but onely intend to speak of Growth in it: for of that Christ speaks, because it is such a purging, as is after bringing forth some fruit, and whereof the end is to bring forth more fruit.
Neither 2. are we so much to speak of it here, as it is a duty to be done by us, (though it be so) but as it is a work of God upon us, which he takes care to go through with, and perfect in all those who are fruitful: for he speaks here of it rather as an act of Gods, He purgeth, then as it is to be an act of ours, that we ought to purge our selves; though both do go together, as in that speech, Rom. 8. We by the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh; so as that which is proper to the point in hand, for the explication of it, (as here in this place it is laid down) is not so much to give you motives or means of purging your selves, as to show you the ways and courses God takes still one way or other to purge his children by, that they may be more fruitful.
Neither 2. are we so much to speak of it here, as it is a duty to be done by us, (though it be so) but as it is a work of God upon us, which he takes care to goe through with, and perfect in all those who are fruitfull: for he speaks here of it rather as an act of Gods, He purgeth, then as it is to be an act of ours, that we ought to purge our selves; though both doe goe together, as in that speech,