A41536:333
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, true mortification strikes at the root, and so causeth every branch to wither: For all sinful dispositions are rooted in one, namely, in love of pleasure more then of God: and all true imortification deeds a man to the pleasure of sin, by bringing the heart more into communion, and into love with God; and therefore the deading to any sin must needs be general and universal to every sin. It is as the dying of the heart, which causeth all the members to die with it; for that is the difference between restraining Grace, which cuts off but branches, and so lops the tree, but true mortification strikes every blow at the root.
First, true mortification strikes at the root, and so causeth every branch to wither: For all sinfull dispositions are rooted in one, namely, in love of pleasure more then of God: and all true imortification deads a man to the pleasure of sinne, by bringing the heart more into communion, and into love with God; and therefore the deading to any sinne must needs be generall and universall to every sinne. It is as the dying of the heart, which causeth all the members to die with it; for that is the difference betweene restraining Grace, which cuts off but branches, and so lops the tree, but true mortification strikes every blow at the root.
Secondly, every new degree of true mortification purgeth out a sin, as it is sin, and works against it under that consideration: and if against it as sin, then the same power that works out any sin, works against every sin in the heart also. Now that every new degree works against a sin, as it is sin, is plain by this, because if it be purged out upon any other respect, it is not mortification.
Secondly, every new degree of true mortification purgeth out a sinne, as it is sinne, and works against it under that consideration: and if against it as sinne, then the same power that works out any sinne, works against every sinne in the heart also. Now that every new degree works against a sinne, as it is sinne, is plain by this, because if it be purged out upon any other respect, it is not mortification.