A41536:293
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.
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.
But it may be objected,1 that Grace is acted, or lusts doe 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 himselfe, he shall fall more.
- 1Object.
But to this it is answered,1
- 1Answ. 1.
First, that though the holy Ghost be a voluntary Agent, and blows when and where he pleaseth, for his times of working, yet ordinarily he acteth grace in us, (take our whole course) according to the proportion of grace given us, so as he that hath more habitual grace, shall be more assisted and enlivened, which falls out according to that rule, which in this case will hold, Habenti dabitur, Mat. 25. 29. To him that hath shall be given, if it be a true talent: Hence therefore he that had five talents, gained more then he that had but two; for he gained his five more unto his two; the other but two more to his former two: though he that had but one, is said to have gained none, because indeed it was not a true talent, for he seemed but to have it, the Text says. And the reason hereof is, because those habits of grace which God hath infused, are his own work, and are ordained by him to be acted, and he delights still to crown his own works in us with more. And as he proportions glory to works, so he promiseth to act according to the principles of grace infused, which else would be in vain, they being ordained to that end: As the Apostle says of gifts, that they are given to profit withal; so are graces to work, and therefore ordinarily God draws them out, where he hath bestowed them, as he doth gifts also, according to their proportion: and thus è contra it is for leaving a man to sin; the more corruption a man hath, the more ordinarily he lets it vent and discover it self, that so men that have many corruptions in them, might know what is in their hearts; and so when God doth mortify them in them to thank him the more, the grace of which else would be to them lost, if God should mortify their lusts in them, without their seeing and