A41536:335
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.
Thirdly, the Spirit, and the virtue that comes from Christ, which are the efficient causes of this purging out a sin, do also work against every sin, when they work against any one; and they have a contrariety to every lust; they search into every vein, and draw from all parts. Physicians may give elective purges, as they call them, which will purge out one humour, and not another, but Christs physic works generally, it takes away all sorts of distempers.
Thirdly, the Spirit, and the virtue that comes from Christ, which are the efficient causes of this purging out a sinne, doe also work against every sinne, when they work against any one; and they have a contrarietie to every lust; they search into every veyne, and draw from all parts. Physitians may give elective purges, as they call them, which will purge out one humour, and not another, but Christs physick works generally, it takes away all sorts of distempers.
And whereas the Objection against this may be,1 that then all lusts will come to be equally mortified.
- 1Object.
I answer,1 No, for all lusts were never equally alive in a man; some are stronger, some weaker by custom, through disposition of body and spirit; and therefore though mortification extends it self to all, yet there being an inequality in the life and growth of these sins in us, hence some remain still more, some less mortified; as when a flood of water is left to flow into a field, where many hills are of differing height, though the water overflows all equally, yet some are more above water then others, because they were higher before of themselves. And hence it is that some sins, when the power of grace comes, may be in a manner wholly subdued, namely, those which proceed out of the abundance of naughtiness in the heart, as swearing, malice against the truth; and these the children of God are usually wholly freed from, and they seem wholly dead, being as the excrements of other members, and being as the nails, and the hair, they are wholly pared off, as was the manner to a Proselyte woman; the power of Grace takes them away, though other members continue vigorous: And therefore of swearing Christ says, What is more then Yea, yea, and Nay, nay, is [Greek or Hebrew], out of a profane heart: As when a man is a dying, some members are stiff and cold, and clean dead long afore, as the