The Trial of a Christians Growth in Mortification, Title page – To the reader
THE TRYALL OF A CHRISTIANS GROWTH IN Mortification, OR Purging out Corruption. Vivification, OR 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 Spirituall Growth.
Together with ſome Obſervations upon the Parable of the Vine, John 15. 1, 2. verſes.
By THO: GOODWIN, B. D.
2 COR. 7. 1.
Let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe of fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſſe in the feare of God.
LONDON, Printed by J. G. for R. Dawlman, 1650.
TO THE READER.
THis following Treatiſe [The Tryall of a Chriſtians Growth] was formerly printed during the time of my abſence out of my native Country: and by reaſon thereof had many imperfections and incongruities both in ſtyle and matter; which, now being againe (through the good hand of God upon me) returned, I have endeavoured to amend. So as partly through ſome alteration in the method and frame of it, partly by cutting off ſome redundancies, I have reduced it to ſome better ſhape, and neerer proportion to its fellowes.
The ſcope and way of handling this ſubject [Growth] is not Doctrinall ſo much, nor yet Hortatory, as either perſwading to, or diſcourſing of a Chriſtians growth in generall, (concerning which much hath been already written by others) But the more proper aime of this is to reſolve A Caſe of Conſcience, (like as thoſe two other preceding Tractates of mine have done) namely this, How to diſcern our growth, and to anſwer more uſuall temptations about it: And ſo theſe three Treatiſes being of like ſort and kinde, and properly belonging to that part of Theologie which we call Caſe Divinity; I have therefore in this new Edition of the whole ordered to put them together, (which is all the alteration I have made) although in their firſt and ſingle publiſhing ſome other came between.
If in the performance this falls ſhort of many more raiſed experiments of Growth which are found in ſuch as the Apoſtle John calls Fathers, elderly Chriſtians, who with Enoch have walked long with God; yet I have hoped that you that are young men (as he alſo ſtyles the middle ſort of Chriſtians) that you may finde many things helpfull to your right underſtanding and judging of your growth, and which may free you from many miſtakes in miſ-judging thereof, and ſo conſequently of many tentations about it, which that Age of Beleevers are more peculiarly incident unto. I dare not ſay, I write theſe things to you Fathers, I never preſumed it in my thoughts; I my ſelfe wrote and preached it when I was but young in years, and for the time far younger in grace and experience. And I dare not (if the great Apoſtle would not) ſtretch my ſelfe beyond that meaſure which God hath diſtributed to me. 2 Cor. 10. 14.A meaſure, which, yet, may reach you that are young men, though more eminent grown Chriſtians are gone far beyond the line of it.
The God of grace and peace grant us and all his children ſpirits endeavouring to ſpeak the truth in love (in theſe dividing times) that we may grow up into him in all things,Epheſ. 4. 15. who is the Head, even Chriſt.
April 26. 1643. Tho: Goodwin.