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…

Sixthly, when in ordinary times of temptation a man finds a lust not so violent and raging as it was wont, but more impotent and weak. Look to your fits of sinning whether they become greater or less, for then a mans strength or weakness is discerned most; as the bodily strength is, when a man either goes about to put himself forth, or is assaulted and set upon. Many that are sick, whilst they lie still in their beds, think they have a great deal of strength, but when they attempt to rise, and walk, they sink down again. As a mans weakness to good is discerned, when he comes to do and to act it, Rom. 7. To do I am not able; so a mans weakness to sin, or strength against it, is then also best ⟨p. 83⟩discerned. The weakness or strength of a Kingdom is best seen and discerned in time of war, when a•l forces are mustered up. Now God sometimes appoints some more frequent assaults, and on purpose suffers the law in the members to war, and to muster up all their force, that (as it is said of Hezekiah) a man might know what is in his heart; now if then a man finds that the motions of sin in his heart do every temptation after other meet with an hotter encounter then they had wont; that the resistance against sin grows quicker, and stronger; that sin cannot advance, and carry on his army so far as formerly, but is still encountered and met withal at the Frontiers, and there overthrown even at the first setting out, so as it cannot carry it through the camp, (as Zimri did his mistress Cosbi) as sometimes it had wont, when as Grace stood at the Tent door, as Moses weeping, yet unable to resist it; and although assaults and temptations do continue, that yet there is ground kept and won upon the encroachments of a lust, in so much that at least the outward forts are kept by grace, that is, outward acts are abstained from; Now so far as the lust is not fulfilled as it had wont to be, and not only so, but the inroads of it are confined and contracted also to a narrower compass, and to have a lesser ground and space in regard of inward acts; also so far it is purged more forth: As for instance, be it a lust of fancy, when it cannot boil up to such gross fancies as it had wont;

Sixtly, when in ordinary times of temptation a man finds a lust not so violent and raging as it was wont, but more impotent and weak. Look to your fits of sinning whether they become greater or lesse, for then a mans strength or weaknesse is discerned most; as the bodily strength is, when a man either goes about to put himself forth, or is assaulted and set upon. Many that are sick, whilst they lie still in their beds, think they have a great deale of strength, but when they attempt to rise, and walk, they sink down againe. As a mans weaknesse to good is discerned, when he comes to doe and to act it,