A41536:255
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 first, I will handle it negatively, and give you such symptoms, as argue much corruption, a great deal of humours yet remaining to be purged out: Such as argue little proficiency in this work, though such as withal true grace may be supposed to be in the heart.
And first, I will handle it negatively, and give you such symptomes, as argue much corruption, a great deale of humours yet remaining to be purged out: Such as argue little proficiency in this worke, though such as withall true grace may be supposed to be in the heart.
1. When a man doth magnify, and sets a high price upon §1worldly and carnal excellencies and pleasures; is much taken with outward things, and carried away with them: Or when (though we restrain our selves from the eager pursuit after them, ⟨p. 72⟩yet if) in your eyes and opinions they seem glorious and goodly things, and oh we secretly think the enjoying such a pleasure, the obtaining such an excellency, or such or such a condition of life, accommodated with such and such conveniences and circumstances, would be so great an addition of happiness to us; this argues a green heart, much want of mortification, though truth of grace be there. These Apostles, to whom Christ spake this Parable of the Vine, (and unto them especially) how were they affected, and transported with a trifle? Even that very night that Christ was to be attached, they strive for precedency, and who should be the greatest amongst them▪ Luk. 22. who should be chief of that noble order: And it was such a precedency which they affected, as Noblemen have in Kingdoms, as appears by the following words: they showed themselves but Gentiles in it, (as ver. 25. Christ insinuates) who stand upon their blood and their outward privileges: It was not for nothing Christ tells them in this Parable, they needed purging; but the reason was, they were but children yet, and babes in Christ, now in their minority, and were not weaned from rattles and trifles, Christ was not yet crucified, not they so throughly crucified with him, as they were afterwards: The holy Ghost had not yet come upon them, as fire to burn up their lusts, and to consume this their dross. That other Apostle, Paul, (who says of himself, that he was borne out of time, in comparison to them) had attained to a greater measure, he glorying in this as his highest title, that he was the least of the Apostles. This magnifying of outward things in our conceits and opinions, is indeed but knowing things after the flesh, as the Apostle speaks,