A41536:357
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
Contents: A Table of the Contents of this Book.Contents: A Table of the Contents of this Booke.
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.
The Trial of a Christians Growth. PART I. Of GROWTH in bringing forth more fruit. CHAP. I. That all true Branches in Christ do grow: Proved, 1. By Scriptures, Reasons. 38 1. Reas. From Christs relation to us as an Head, and we his members. And herein, ⟨image 59⟩1. From our conformity to him. 39 2. From his having received all fullness to fill us. 40 3. From our growth making up his fullness, as he is mystically considered one with us. ibid. 2. Reas. From God the Father, who 1. Hath appointed every one their measure. 41 2. Hath promised it. ibid. 3. Hath appointed means for it. ibid. 3. Reas. From the Saints themselves, who cannot be saved unless they grow. ibid. CHAP. II. An explication how the Saints do grow. Many considerations to satisfy the tentations of those that discern not their growth. 42 1. Consid. more general, showing what sort of Christians this tentation doth usually befall. ibid. 2. Consid. more particular, As 1. That growing in grace is a Mystery rather to be apprehended by faith, then by sense. 44 2. The eager desire which many have to grow, and attain to more grace, hinders them from discerning their growth. ibid. 3. The progress is not in many so discernible, as the change at their first conversion is, or as their first growth. The reasons of it. ibid. 4. To discern of growth there must be time allowed. 45 5. There are several ways by which men are brought to that measure appointed them, in which some have the advantage of others. ibid. 1. Some have a greater stock of grace given them at first: which is done in two cases. 46 2. In the manner of growing, God puts much difference, 1. Some grow without intermission. 2. Some God sooner ripens for heaven. ibid. CHAP. III. What it is to bring forth more fruit, explicated negatively, by removing many mistakes. 46 1. It is not to grow only or chiefly in gifts, as abilities to pray, and preach, or in knowledge, but in graces. 47 Three cautions herein. ibid. 2. Our bringing forth more fruit is not to be measured by the success of our gifts, the fruits of our doings, but by the Doings themselves. 48 ⟨image 59⟩3. It is not simply to be estimated by the largeness or smallness of our opportunities of doing good, (which may vary) but by an heart to do good. 50 4. It is not always to be measured by accessary graces, as joy, spiritual ravishments, &c. ibid. 5.
The Tryall of a Christians Growth. PART I. Of GROVVTH in bringing forth more fruit. CHAP. I. That all true Branches in Christ doe grow: Proved, 1. By Scriptures, Reasons. 38 1. Reas. From Christs relation to us as an Head, and we his members. And herein,