A41536:311
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.
A Third Caution to prevent mis-judging; if a man will not be mistaken in judging his growth in Mortification comparatively with others, or with himself, he must consider his occasions and opportunities to draw him out, thus: A man when he had more corruption, yet less occasions and provocations to sin, may have corruption less stirring in him, then when he is more grown up in grace, if his temptations were then greater: The same tree standing in the shade, where also the rain comes not to it, when transplanted, where both sun and rain fall upon it, may be more fruitful then formerly. David, when under afflictions in the wilderness, and wanting opportunities, how strict was he,1 and kept himself from his iniquity? but when he came to the delicacies of a Kingdom, though he was grown up still more and more in grace, yet how did he fall? As to aggravate the sin of not growing more, the proportion of means every one hath had is to be considered; and for one who hath had much means to grow much, for him is less, then one who hath less means: So in the stirring or declining of sin, opportunities and occasions are also to be considered; as if a man be transplanted out of a full condition into an empty, if then many of his lusts do not stir so much as afore, no wonder. Even as if a man when cast into a sweat by reason of multitude of clothes, it is no marvel, if when clothes are taken off, he sweat less.
A Third Caution to prevent mis-judging; if a man will not be mistaken in judging his growth in Mortification comparatively with others, or with himselfe, he must consider his occasions and opportunities to draw him out, thus: A man when he had more corruption, yet lesse occasions and provocations to sinne, may have corruption lesse stirring in him, then when he is more grown up in grace, if his temptations were then greater: The same tree standing in the shade, where also the raine comes not to it, when transplanted, where both sunne and raine fall upon it, may be more fruitfull then formerly. David, when under afflictions in the wildernesse, and wanting opportunities, how strict was he,1 and kept himselfe from his iniquity? but when he came to the delicacies of a Kingdome, though he was grown up still more and more in grace, yet how did he fall? As to aggravate the sinne of not growing more, the proportion of meanes every one hath had is to be considered; and for one who hath had much meanes to grow much, for him is lesse, then one who hath lesse meanes: So in the stirring or declining of sinne, opportunities and occasions are also to be considered; as if a man be transplanted out of a full condition into an empty, if then many of his lusts doe not stir so much as afore, no wonder. Even as if a man when cast into a sweat by reason of multitude of cloathes, it is no marvaile, if when cloathes are taken off, he sweat lesse.