A41536:289
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 the third thing I would add is this, that such an one as is indeed much mortified,1 if it happens he falls into such a fit, yet the greater measure of his mortification will appear afterwards, in that the lust will be weaker after his recovery again. It is in this, as with a man that is in a hot fiery fit of a fever, though he have at that instant the strength of two men in him, (as was said) yet afterward, when the spirits are ebbed and settled again, his body is the weaker for it: so is the body of sin, upon the resurrection of grace, after such a fall. Many grow more after sickness. For Gods end being but to discover his weakness, (and what he is in himself) and to rouse him out of his security, he then loves to manifest his power when once we have seen our weakness; and so makes his strength perfect in our infirmities, when they are not ordinary, but beyond the ordinary temper and dispositions of our spirits.
And the third thing I would adde is this, that such an one as is indeed much mortified,1 if it happens he falls into such a fit, yet the greater measure of his mortification will apeare afterwards, in that the lust will be weaker after his recoverie againe. It is in this, as with a man that is in a hot fierie fit of a feaver, though he have at that instant the strength of two men in him, (as was said) yet afterward, when the spirits are ebbed and setled againe, his body is the weaker for it: so is the body of sin, upon the resurrection of grace, after such a fall. Many grow more after sicknesse. For Gods end being but to discover his weaknesse, (and what he is in himselfe) and to rouze him out of his security, he then loves to manifest his power when once we have seene our weaknesse; and so makes his strength perfect in our infirmities, when they are not ordinary, but beyond the ordinary temper and dispositions of our spirits.
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