A41536:258
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.
Secondly, when our minds are carried out to superfluities, and §2more then needs, and are discontented with our own condition, though it be such as might content us, this argues a great want of purging, this is from superfluity, of humours abounding in the heart. When they in the wilderness, though they had Manna, yet they must have Quails also; when there are such extravagant affections in us, that we think any other condition would please us better then our own, this argues much unmortifyednesse, though it run not out into acts; it is the superfluity of naughtiness, the excess of corruption that thinks stolen meat sweet, as in the Proverbs. When our longings are wild and humorous, like the longings of women with child, whom nothing but some one odd thing they have set their fancy on, will please; like sick mens stomachs, with whom nothing will down that is provided for them, but still they have a mind rather to something else; so nor we with what God allots us. And when we are environed about with comforts, yet all are nothing, if some one be wanting. Such unmortified lusts we see in Sampson, though a good man, yet none of the daughters of Israel could please, but he must have one of the Philistines, Judg. 14. 3.
Secondly, when our minds are carried out to superfluities, and §2more then needs, and are discontented with our own condition, though it be such as might content us, this argues a great want of purging, this is from superfluity, of humours abounding in the heart. When they in the wildernesse, though they had Manna, yet they must have Quails also; when there are such extravagant affections in us, that we thinke any other condition would please us better then our owne, this argues much unmortifyednesse, though it run not out into acts; it is the superfluity of naughtinesse, the excesse of corruption that thinks stolne meate sweet, as in the Proverbs. When our longings are wild and humorous, like the longings of women with child, whom nothing but some one odde thing they have set their fancie on, will please; like sick mens stomachs, with whom nothing will down that is provided for them, but still they have a mind rather to something else; so nor we with what God allots us. And when we are environed about with comforts, yet all are nothing, if some one be wanting. Such unmortifyed lusts we see in Sampson, though a good man, yet none of the daughters of Israel could please, but he must have one of the Philistims,