Chapter IV
II. What it is to bring forth more fruit explained positively; wherein
many direct trials of such a growth are given
. . .470
1. If we go on to the exercise of new graces,
2. If we find new degrees of the same grace added, . 471
3. If fruits and duties grow more ripe and spiritual, though not more in bulk : what it is that gives a spiritual relish to this fruit, 471
4. If the heart grows more rooted into Christ, . . 472
. . 472
5. If we learn more to bring forth fruit in season,
6. If we grow more constant and even in a holy course, . 472
7. If, though our difficulties and oppositions be more, and means
less, yet we continue to bring forth as well as when our means
were more, and difficulties loss,
8. If, though we do less, yet we grow more wise, and faithful to
lay out our abilities, and improve our opportunities to the greater
advantages for God s glory and the good of others, . . 473
PART II.
OF GROWTH IN PURGING OUT CORRUPTION.
CHAPTER I.
The observation out of the text propounded, That God goes on to
purge out our corruptions,
. .
- . ,. 474
I. Bounds set to the discourse about it,
. .
. : . . - 475
II. The reasons of the point,
XX11 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER II. PAGB
III. The ways God useth to purge out corruption out of his children, with the means by which he causeth them to grow to a further measure therein
1.) By falling into sins, .... 477
1. Occasional
2.) By casting them into afflictions, . . . 477 2. Instrumental, . . . . . 477 3. Examples
(1.) Of those that have been professors and have fallen away, 478
(2.) Of holy men, . . . . . 473 4. Inward workings ; which consist of five things
A further discovering of corruption unto us, . 478
2.) Setting the heart on work to get one s lusts mortified more and more, . . . . . 478 Drawing the heart more and more into holy duties,
SI.}
Christ, ...... 479
. 479 Bringing the heart more and more acquainted with
(3.)
(4.)
(5.) Assuring the soul of his love, 480
CHAPTER III.
IY. The trial of growth in mortification by
1. Negative signs, or such as argue much corruption remain
ing unpurged out ; as
(1.) If a man doth magnify and set a high price upon worldly and carnal excellencies and pleasures,
. . .481
(2.) If our minds be carried out to superfluities, and more than needs, and are discontented with our own condition, 482
(3.) If our minds be so glued to anything, that we know not how to part with it, . . . .482
prosperous or adverse, .... 482
(4.) If our hearts be distempered under variety of conditions, and are very inordinate in them all, whether they be
(5.) The more carnal confidence we have in the creature, and
our spirits being upheld by them, . . . 483
(6.) The more full of envyings and heart-burnings against others, as to get the credit from them, &c.,
"
. 483
(7.) The less able we are to bear reproofs for the breaking forth of our lusts, . . . . .484
(8.) The more quick and speedy the temptation is in pre vailing upon the heart, .... 484
(9.) The more power our lusts have to disturb us in holy duties, .... 484
(10.) If the bare recalling former sins committed prove a new snare to entice the heart, . . . .485
CHAPTER IV. The trial of mortification by
2, Positive signs, which argue a good degree of that work in the
heart; as
(1.) The more insight a man hath into spiritual corruptions,
joined with a conflict against them, . , . 486
THE TRIAL OF A CHRISTIAN S GROWTH. XX111
PAGE
(2.) The more we grow up to a readiness, willingness, free-
ness, and cheerfulness of heart to deny ourselves, 486
(3.) The more stable, even, and constant we are in well-doing,
and the more durable a holy frame of heart in us is, . 487
(4.) The more spiritual taste and relish of the spiritual part
of the word we have,
(5.) The more ashamed we grow of former carriages, and
tation, ....
sensible of former weaknesses,
(6.) The weaker we find our lusts to be in the time of temp
(7.) The more ability we have to abstain from occasions and
opportunities of satisfying our lusts,
(8.) If we linger not after the objects of our lusts, when
they are absent, but are weaned from them,