A41536:79
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.
The 4. Doct. is, That in the most fruitful branches there remain corruptions that still need purging out.
The 4. Doct. is, That in the most fruitfull branches there remain corruptions that still need purging out.
This is taken but as supposed in the text, and not so directly laid down, and I shall handle it but so far as it makes way for what doth follow. What shall I need to quote much Scripture for the proof of it? Turn but to your own hearts, the best will find proofs enough of it.
Reasons.
That God might thereby the more set forth and clear unto us his justifying grace by Christs righteousness, and clear the truth of it to all our hearts. When the Apostle, long after his first conversion, was in the midst of that great and famous battle, chronicled in that 7. Rom. wherein he was led captive to a Law, and an army of sin within him, warring against the law of his mind, presently upon that woeful exclamation and outcry there mentioned, Oh miserable man that I am, &c. he falls admiring the grace of justification through Christ, they are his first words after the battle ended, [Now] (says he) there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ: Mark that word [Now] that now after such bloody wounds and gashes there should yet be no condemnation, this exceedingly exalts this grace, for if ever (thought he) I was in danger of condemnation, it was upon the rising and rebelling of these my corruptions, which when they had carried me