A41536:360
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 more ability we have to abstain from occasions and opportunities of satisfying our lusts. 84 8. If we linger not after the objects of our lusts, when they are absent, but are weaned from them. ibid. CHAP. V. Some Cautions to prevent mis-judging by false rules. As also This Case resolved, Whether Growth in Grace may be judged by the ordinary prevailing of corruption, or the ordinary acting of mans grace. 85 1. Caution. That men are not to estimate their progress in grace, by having overcome such lusts as their natures are not so prone unto: but that a judgment hereof is to be made from the decay of the bosom sin. ibid. 2. Caution. We are not to judge by extraordinary assistances, nor extraordinary temptations. 86 This Caution explicated by three things. 87 This Question resolved, Whether we may certainly judge of the degrees of our mortification to lusts, by the ordinary risings and prevailings of them, or by the ordinary acting and exercise of our graces. 88 Answered affirmatively. ibid. An Objection, That the Spirit is a voluntary Agent, who may act a less degree of grace more then a greater. Answered. 90 1. That yet the holy Ghost ordinarily assists according to the proportion of grace given. ibid. 2. That the acting of grace increaseth the habits more and so it comes all to one. 91 Two limitations herein. 1. That God for some time of a mans life may leave a strong Christian to greater corruption then a weak, and act a weak Christians grace more. ibid. God may have four ends in such a dispensation. ibid. 2. Limitation. If a weak Christian be more watchful over his lusts for a time, then a stronger Christian: yet his weakness is discovered by two things. 94 CHAP. VI. Five Cautions more added to the two former, to prevent such mis-judging. 3. Caut. To take into consideration our several occasions to draw out corruptions, and means to draw forth graces. 96 ⟨image 61⟩4. Caut. To consider the natural temper of a mans own spirit; whether it be quick and active, or slow. ibid. 5. To consider what force restraining grace hath in us, which often makes mortification seem greater then it is. 97 6. Not to judge from our present listlessness to sin; which may arise from other causes besides true mortification; and so may make that seem to be much more at some times then in truth it is.
The more ability we have to abstaine from occasions and opportunities of satisfying our lusts. 84 8. If we linger not after the objects of our lusts, when they are absent, but are weaned from them. ibid. CHAP. V. Some Cautions to prevent mis-judging by false rules. As also This Case resolved, Whether Growth in Grace may be judged by the ordinary prevailing of corruption, or the ordinary acting of mans grace. 85 1. Caution. That men are not to estimate their progresse in grace, by having overcome such lusts as their natures are not so prone unto: but that a judgment hereof is to be made from the decay of the bosome sin. ibid. 2. Caution. We are not to judge by extraordinary assistances, nor extraordinary temptations. 86 This Caution explicated by three things. 87 This Question resolved, Whether we may certainly judge of the degrees of our mortification to lusts, by the ordinary risings and prevailings of them, or by the ordinary acting and exercise of our graces. 88 Answered affirmatively. ibid. An Objection, That the Spirit is a voluntary Agent, who may act a lesse degree of grace more then a greater. Answered. 90 1. That yet the holy Ghost ordinarily assists according to the proportion of grace given. ibid. 2. That the acting of grace encreaseth the habits more and so it comes all to one. 91 Two limitations herein. 1. That God for some time of a mans life may leave a strong Christian to greater corruption then a weake, and act a weak Christians grace more. ibid. God may have four ends in such a dispensation. ibid. 2. Limitation. If a weak Christian be more watchfull over his lusts for a time, then a stronger Christian: yet his weaknesse is discovered by two things. 94 CHAP. VI. Five Cautions more added to the two former, to prevent such mis-judging. 3. Caut. To take into consideration our severall occasions to draw out corruptions, and means to draw forth graces. 96