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…

First, the more insight a man hath into spiritual corruptions, together with a conflict against them, the more growth he hath attained unto in purging out corruptions: So as that now the chiefest of his conflict is come to be with spiritual lusts, not worldly lusts and gross evils; it is an evidence of his progress in this work. These ordinarily are sure rules, that whilst a mans conflict is with more outward gross evils, as uncleanness, worldly mindnesse, &c. so long and so much he is kept from the sight of those inward, hidden, close corruptions, which sit nighest to the heart: As also on the contrary, the more a man is freed from, and hath got victory over such more outward evils, the more his thoughts and intentions are bent inward to the discovery of the other more spiritual wickednesses. And the reason is, for these spiritual lusts, as pride, carnal confidence in a mans own graces, self-flattery, presumption, and the like, these corruptions lie (as I may so express it,) more up in the heart of the country; but those other of worldly lusts, lye as it were in the Frontiers, and skirts of it; and therefore, until such time as a man hath in some good measure overcome those that encounter him at the Borders, he comes not to have so through a discovery, and constant conflict with those that lie higher up in the heart; Let us cleanse our selves from all pollution both of flesh and spirit, says the Apostle, • Cor. 7. Which implies, that there are two sorts of corruptions, one of the flesh, or body; the other, of the spirit, or soul: for so the opposition there is to be taken, for else all lusts are lusts of the flesh, that is, of corrupt nature. Again, such corruptions cause a blindness that a man cannot see afar off, as 2 Pet. Chap. 1. Whilst a scholar that learns a Tongue, hath not learned to escape all grosser faults in Grammatical construction, ⟨p. 80⟩he cannot be supposed to have come to know the Elegancies of the Tongue, nor see his errors therein; so nor do men come to be Critiques indeed, and cunningly skilful in the more curious Erratas of their hearts and spirits, till they have attained to such a degree of mortification, as to be free from grosser evils. And indeed, those who are grown in grace, have attained ordinarily some freedom from such sins; therefore says John, 1 Epist. 2. 14.

First, the more insight a man hath into spirituall corruptions, together with a conflict against them, the more growth he hath attained unto in purging out corruptions: So as that now the chiefest of his conflict is come to be with spirituall lusts, not worldly lusts and grosse evils; it is an evidence of his progresse in this worke. These ordinarily are sure rules, that whilst a mans conflict is with more outward grosse evills, as uncleannesse, worldly mindnesse, &c. so long and so much he is kept from the sight of those inward, hidden, close corruptions, which sit nighest to the heart: As also on the contrary, the more a man is freed from, and hath got victory over such more outward evills, the more his thoughts and intentions are bent inward to the discovery of the other more spirituall wickednesses. And the reason is, for these spirituall lusts, as pride, carnall confidence in a mans owne graces, self-flattery, presumption, and the like, these corruptions lie (as I may so expresse it,) more up in the heart of the countrey; but those other of worldly lusts, lye as it were in the Frontiers, and skirts of it; and therefore, untill such time as a man hath in some good measure overcome those that encounter him at the Borders, he comes not to have so through a discovery, and constant conflict with those that lie higher up in the heart; Let us cleanse our selves from all pollution both of flesh and spirit, sayes the Apostle, Cor. 7. Which implyes, that there are two sorts of corruptions, one of the flesh, or body; the other, of the spirit, or soule: for so the opposition there is to be taken, for else all lusts are lusts of the flesh, that is, of corrupt nature. Againe, such corruptions cause a blindnesse that a man cannot see afar off, as 2 Pet. Chap. 1. Whilst a scholar that learnes a Tongue, hath not learned to escape all grosser faults in Grammaticall construction,