A41536:301
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.
First, in case of too much confidence upon inherent grace, and the strength of it: When we trust to habitual grace received, then Christ, to show that it is a new grace, to assist that grace, and to the end that it may be acknowledged that he that gives one grace, is not bound to give another, may in this case leave one that hath indeed more grace to the prevailing of corruptions ⟨p. 92⟩more. It falls out sometimes that when men are young Christians, and new borne, God adds much assistance, and this for their encouragement; and as you carry young children in your arms, and so they are kept from falls more then some more elderly that are let go alone. Thus Hos. 11. 3. God takes them by the arms when a child, ver. 1. but then they acknowledge it not, as it follows there, and are apt to think that that strength and life they have, is from themselves, and so God afterwards leaves them, when grown men more elderly. Those Christians who walk most sensibly of their own weakness, and observe God his keeping them from sin, and attribute this to him, such God delights to help, though for the present they have less habitual grace: And so those Christians that sooner come to the knowledge of that way of dependence upon Christ, (some come to see it the first day, and make use of it; others not so clearly a long while) they shall be more assisted then another. To many that way so soon is not so clearly opened.
First, in case of too much confidence upon inherent grace, and the strength of it: When we trust to habituall grace received, then Christ, to shew that it is a new grace, to assist that grace, and to the end that it may be acknowledged that he that gives one grace, is not bound to give another, may in this case leave one that hath indeed more grace to the prevailing of corruptions ⟨p. 92⟩more. It falls out sometimes that when men are young Christians, and new borne, God adds much assistance, and this for their encouragement; and as you carry young children in your armes, and so they are kept from falls more then some more elderly that are let goe alone. Thus Hos. 11. 3. God takes them by the armes when a child, ver. 1. but then they acknowledge it not, as it follows there, and are apt to think that that strength and life they have, is from themselves, and so God afterwards leaves them, when grown men more elderly. Those Christians who walk most sensibly of their owne weaknesse, and observe God his keeping them from sin, and attribute this to him, such God delights to help, though for the present they have lesse habituall grace: And so those Christians that sooner come to the knowledge of that way of dependance upon Christ, (some come to see it the first day, and make use of it; others not so clearely a long while) they shall be more assisted then another. To many that way so soone is not so clearly opened.