A41536:263
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.
Seventhly, the less able we are to hear reproofs for the breakings forth of our lusts, the more unmortified it argues our hearts to be: it is a sign we love those much, whom we cannot endure to hear spoken against: therefore says the Apostle, Be swift to hear, but slow to wrath; take heed of raging when you are touched; And it follows a verse after, Casting away all superfluity, receive the word with meekness, for it is your lusts uncast out, unpurged, that cause that wrath and heart-boiling against reproof. That good King was in a great distemper of spirit, when he cast the Prophet in prison that reproved him, for he oppressed the people also at the same time, as is said, 2 Chron. 16. 10. he was then taken in the spring-tide, and swelling of his lusts of covetousness and oppression; they brake down all that withstood and opposed the current of them: and if (as he in this fit at this time, so) we be found in such passionate tempers upon such occasions of reproof ordinarily, it argues the habitual frame of our hearts to be much unmortified, as this argued him at this time to have been actually much distempered.
Seventhly, the lesse able we are to heare reproofs for the breakings forth of our lusts, the more unmortifyed it argues our hearts to be: it is a signe we love those much, whom we cannot endure to heare spoken against: therefore sayes the Apostle, Be swift to heare, but slow to wrath; take heed of raging when you are toucht; And it follows a verse after, Casting away all superfluity, receive the word with meeknesse, for it is your lusts uncast out, unpurged, that cause that wrath and heart-boiling against reproofe. That good King was in a great distemper of spirit, when he cast the Prophet in prison that reproved him, for he oppressed the people also at the same time, as is said, 2 Chron. 16. 10. he was then taken in the spring-tide, and swelling of his lusts of covetousnesse and oppression; they brake downe all that withstood and opposed the current of them: and if (as he in this fit at this time, so) we be found in such passionate tempers upon such occasions of reproof ordinarily, it argues the habituall frame of our hearts to be much unmortifyed, as this argued him at this time to have beene actually much distempered.