A41536:313
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.
Fifthly, if we would judge aright, what measure of true mortification §5is in us, we must not take into the reckoning what restraining grace doth in us, but observe that apart, and cast that up in a sum by it self. For this you must know, that even in the regenerate, all their abstinence from sins is not from mere mortification, but restraining grace continues even after regeneration to contribute to it, and so make mortification seem the greater. It was not merely and only mortification of the lust of Anger that made Moses so meek; for at another time, when he was left, what a chafe was he in, when he called them all Rebels and said in an heat, that he must fetch water out of the rock for them? It was his temper and disposition of nature, helped to make him so eminent in ruling that passion above any other, that he is said to be the meekest man on earth. It was not simply, merely mortification, that made that great Apostle Paul so eminently chaste; but over and besides what mortification helped him in it, he had a peculiar gift, as he calls it, 1 Cor. 7. 7. he speaks of it as of a gift, not a grace, such as might be in Reprobates; For, says he there, Every one hath his proper gift. So it was not mere mortification that made Luther never troubled with covetousness, but the freeness and generousness of his spirit that helped him in it.
Fiftly, if we would judge aright, what measure of true mortification §5is in us, we must not take into the reckoning what restraining grace doth in us, but observe that apart, and cast that up in a summe by it selfe. For this you must know, that even in the regenerate, all their abstinence from sins is not from meere mortification, but restraining grace continues even after regeneration to contribute to it, and so make mortification seeme the greater. It was not meerely and onely mortification of the lust of Anger that made Moses so meeke; for at another time, when he was left, what a chafe was he in, when he called them all Rebels and said in an heat, that he must fetch water out of the rock for them? It was his temper and disposition of nature, helpt to make him so eminent in ruling that passion above any other, that he is said to be the meekest man on earth. It was not simply, meerly mortification, that made that great Apostle Paul so eminently chaste; but over and besides what mortification helpt him in it, he had a peculiar gift, as he calls it,