A41536:292
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.
The flesh will lust against the spirit so much the stronglier, as the spirit is weaker, for they are contrary; yea and thus God judgeth of the principles of grace in us, according as they act in us; he will judge of our mortification, by the fruits of it in our lives and hearts; the more the fruits of sin grow on in us, the less mortified he will account us; as he will judge of faith by the works, so of mortification by the fruits: and therefore it is observable, that he bids us mortify the deeds of the body, as well as the body of sin, Rom. 8. 13. for God will judge of the one by the other. Therefore the objects of mortification ⟨p. 90⟩are the deeds of the body, as well as the inward principle of corruption, because the mortification of the inward principle will be seen and appear in the deeds.
The flesh will lust against the spirit so much the stronglier, as the spirit is weaker, for they are contrary; yea and thus God judgeth of the principles of grace in us, according as they act in us; he will judge of our mortification, by the fruits of it in our lives and hearts; the more the fruits of sin grow on in us, the lesse morrified he will account us; as he will judge of faith by the works, so of mortification by the fruits: and therefore it is observeable, that he bids us mortifie the deeds of the body, as well as the body of sinne, Rom. 8. 13. for God will judge of the one by the other. Therefore the objects of mortification ⟨p. 90⟩are the deeds of the body, as well as the inward principle of corruption, because the mortification of the inward principle will be seene and appeare in the deeds.
But it may be objected,1 that Grace is acted, or lusts do stir, accordingly as the Spirit of Christ, who is a voluntary Agent, doth act Grace, or will leave a man, so that if he be pleased to stir that little grace in a weak Christian, he shall act it more, and if he leave a strong Christian to himself, he shall fall more.