A41536:25
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.
Whom therefore 3. he planted as a root here on earth with us, and clothed with a humane nature, a weak and mean bark and body, and a rind and out side, such as ours is; that so both root and branches might be of the same nature, and Homogeneall: which nature of ours in him, he likewise filled with his Spirit (as with juice and sap) without all measure, that so he might fructify, and grow into all those branches appointed to be in him, by communicating the same spirit to them.
Whom therefore 3. he planted as a roote here on earth with us, and cloathed with a humane nature, a weak and mean bark and body, and a rind and out side, such as ours is; that so both roote and branches might be of the same nature, and Homogeneall: which nature of ours in him, he likewise filled with his Spirit (as with juice and sap) without all measure, that so he might fructifie, and grow into all those branches appointed to be in him, by communicating the same spirit to them.
And 4. although he was of himself the fairest Cedar that ever the earth bare, yet in relation to those multitude of branches, he was to bear, chooseth to be a Vine, which is of all trees the lowest, the weakest, and of the meanest bark, and out-side of any other, only because of all others it is the plentifullest of branches, and runs out and spreads its bulk in branches; and those, of all branches else of any other trees, the fruitfullest, it is therefore called The fruitful Vine, Psal. 128. 3. and for that reason only doth he single out this comparison, as suiting with his scope, showing therein his love; that as he condescended to the lowest condition, for our salvation, so to the meanest resemblances for our instruction, yet so as withal he tells us, that no Vine, nor all the Vines on earth were worthy herein to be compared, nor to be so much as resemblances of him.
And 4. although he was of himselfe the fairest Cedar that ever the earth bare, yet in relation to those multitude of branches, he was to bear, chuseth to be a Vine, which is of all trees the lowest, the weakest, and of the meanest bark, and out-side of any other, onely because of all others it is the plentifullest of branches, and runs out and spreads its bulk in branches; and those, of all branches else of any other trees, the fruitfullest, it is therefore called The fruitfull Vine,