A41536:332
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, because when the Scripture speaks of our growth therein, he speaks of it as extending it self to every sin. So Ephes. 4. 22. when he exhorts the Ephesians (who were mortified already) to a farther progress in it, he exhorts them to put off the old man, which is corrupt, according to the deceitful lusts. It is not one lust that is the object of mortification, and the growth of it (although he mentions particular lusts afterwards) but the whole man that is corrupt, and all its lusts: and this he there speaks of daily growth therein: For of that he had spoken in the former verses, from the 12. verse, and goes on to speak of it, and exhort to it. Thus in like manner, Gal. 5. 24. it is called crucifying the flesh with the lusts: not one lust, but the flesh, the whole bundle, the cluster of them all: and in that it is called crucifying, it implies it also, for of all deaths that did work upon every part, it did stretch every nerve, sinew, and vein, and put all the parts to pain: and this going on to mortify sin is called Rom. 6. The destroying of the body of sin; of the whole body: It is not the consumption of one member, of the lungs, or liver, &c. but it is is consumptio totius, a consumption of the whole body of sin, so as every new degree of mortification is the consuming of the whole. And therefore also Colos. 3. where in like manner he exhorts to his growth therein, he exhorts to mortify earthly members, every member. And the reasons hereof are, because
First, because when the Scripture speaks of our growth therein, he speaks of it as extending it selfe to every sinne. So Ephes. 4. 22. when he exhorts the Ephesians (who were mortified already) to a farther progresse in it, he exhorts them to put off the old man, which is corrupt, according to the deceitfull lusts. It is not one lust that is the object of mortification, and the growth of it (although he mentions particular lusts afterwards) but the whole man that is corrupt, and all its lusts: and this he there speaks of daily growth therein: For of that he had spoken in the former verses, from the 12. verse, and goes on to speak of it, and exhort to it. Thus in like manner,