A41536:302
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.
Again, secondly, sometimes God will magnify this his acting grace, (as I may call it) more in one man then in another, seeing it is a grace. That one Apostle of the Gentiles, Paul, did more then all the Apostles, shall we thereby infallibly conclude he had more inherent grace then they all? but that he had more assistance. As God sometimes useth men of weaker gifts to do more then men of greater, so men of weaker graces, and less growth, to shame the other. As there are diversities of gifts, so of operations and exercise of those gifts, 1 Cor. 12. 6. the Spirit dividing as he will, ver. 11. God casts aside one of eminent gifts into a place or condition wherein they are not useful, and so he may one of much habitual grace.
Again, secondly, sometimes God will magnifie this his acting grace, (as I may call it) more in one man then in another, seeing it is a grace. That one Apostle of the Gentiles, Paul, did more then all the Apostles, shall we thereby infallibly conclude he had more inherent grace then they all? but that he had more assistance. As God sometimes useth men of weaker gifts to doe more then men of greater, so men of weaker graces, and lesse growth, to shame the other. As there are diversities of gifts, so of operations and exercise of those gifts, 1 Cor. 12. 6. the Spirit dividing as he will, ver. 11. God casts aside one of eminent gifts into a place or condition wherein they are not usefull, and so he may one of much habituall grace.
Thirdly, he acts often according to actual preparation; the habitual preparation lies in habits, and is more remote; as strings may be good, yet out of tune, and so not plaid upon.
Thirdly, he acts often according to actuall preparation; the habituall preparation lies in habits, and is more remote; as strings may be good, yet out of tune, and so not plaid upon.