A41536:74
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.
And thirdly, when they are once taught from the Word, that it is the duty of a Christian, and part of the life of faith, to live thus in Christ, and to bring forth all in him and so come distinctly to apprehend this, as requisite to a right bringing forth of fruit, then their hearts instantly do use to close with the truth of it, as being most suitable and agreeable to that holy frame of their own spirits, which are Evangelically wrought to glorify Christ all manner of ways that shall be revealed; there is an instinct, a preparedness in their faith to make Christ their All in all, as any particular comes to be revealed to them, wherein they ought to exalt him in their hearts; and so this being once revealed to be one way whereby they are to honour him, if they have gone on afore in a confidence on their own graces, henceforth they do so no more, yea they humble themselves as much for so robbing Christ of glory, or neglecting of him, in not having had that distinct recourse to him, as for any other sin.
And thirdly, when they are once taught from the Word, that it is the duty of a Christian, and part of the life of faith, to live thus in Christ, and to bring forth all in him and so come distinctly to apprehend this, as requisite to a right bringing forth of fruit, then their hearts instantly doe use to close with the truth of it, as being most suitable and agreeable to that holy frame of their own spirits, which are Evangelically wrought to glorifie Christ all manner of wayes that shall be revealed; there is an instinct, a preparednesse in their faith to make Christ their All in all, as any particular comes to be revealed to them, wherein they ought to exalt him in their hearts; and so this being once revealed to be one way whereby they are to honour him, if they have gone on afore in a confidence on their own graces, henceforth they doe so no more, yea they humble themselves as much for so robbing Christ of glory, or neglecting of him, in not having had that distinct recourse to him, as for any other sin.
And 4. though haply after all this, yet still their union with him is not cleared to them, and so their communion with him herein (as must needs) doth still remain dark also, they therefore neither discern that they have any true communion with his person, nor can say how strength comes from him; yet having bin thus taught to fetch all from him, as was formerly explained, they do in a continual renunciation of their own strength, deny all offers of assistance from any other strength, as namely that which their gifts and parts would make; (even as they deny unlawful lusts or by-ends) and they still have their eyes upon Christ, to work in them both the will and the deed, and so by a faith of Recumbency, or casting themselves on him for strength in all, (such as they exercise towards him for justification,