The Trial of a Christian's Growth in Mortification

A penetrating Puritan case-of-conscience treatise built around Christ's parable of the Vine in John 15. Goodwin examines how believers can discern genuine spiritual growth — distinguishing true fruit from counterfeit, true branches from empty professors. Drawing on the imagery of purging and vivification, he addresses mortification of remaining corruption, the difference between hypocrites and true believers, and the marks of authentic dependence on Christ. Warm, searching, and pastorally rich, it is written for "young men" in grace still learning to judge their own condition before God.