A09466:13
A treatise tending unto a declaration whether a man be in the estate of…A treatise tending vnto a declaration whether a man be in the estate of…
A treatise tending unto a declaration whether a man be in the estate of damnation or in the estate of grace and if he be in the first, how he may in time come out of it: if in the second, how he may discern it, and persevere in the same to the end. The points that are handled are set down in the page following.A treatise tending vnto a declaration whether a man be in the estate of damnation or in the estate of grace and if he be in the first, how he may in time come out of it: if in the second, how he maie discerne it, and perseuere in the same to the end. The points that are handled are set downe in the page following.
London: printed by R. Robinson for T. Gubbin, 1590
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.
To the Christian Reader.
Good Reader, it is a thing to be considered, that a man may seem both unto himself and to the Church of God to be a true professor of the Gospel, and yet indeed be none. All professors that are of this sort, are excellently described, Luke 8. vers. 13. in these words: And they which are upon the stony ground are they, which when they shall hear, receive the word with joy: but having no root, believe for a time, and in the time of temptation go away: where are to be noted three things. First, their faith, in that they are said to believe for a season. Secondly, the fruits of that faith, in that they are said to receive the word preached with joy. Thirdly, their unsoundness, in that they are compared to stony ground, and in the time of temptation go away.
GOod Reader, it is a thing to be considered, that a man may seeme both vnto himself and to the Church of God to bee a true professour of the Gospel, and yet indeede be none. All professours that are of this sort, are excellently described, Luke 8. vers. 13. in these words: And they which are vpon the stonie ground are they, which when they shall heare, receiue the word with ioy: but hauing no roote, beleeue for a time, and in the time of temptation goe awaie: where are to bee noted three thinges. First, their faith, in that they are saide to beleeue for a season. Secondly, the fruits of that faith, in that they are said to receiue the word preached with ioy. Thirdly, their vnsoundnes, in that they are compared to stony ground, and in the time of temptation goe away.
Concerning their faith, whereas the spirit of God saith, that they do believe, these things are to be considered: first, that they have the knowledge of the word of God: secondly, that they both can and do give assent