A09466:17
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.
If this be so, it may be then required, how these unsound professors differ from true professors. I answer, in this they differ, that they have not sound hearts to cleave unto Christ Jesus for ever. Which appeareth in that they are compared to stony ground. Now, stony grounds mingled with some earth are commonly hot, and therefore have as it were some alacrity and hastiness in them, and the corn as soon as it is cast into this ground it sprouteth out very speedily, but yet the stones will not suffer the corn to be rooted deeply beneath, and therefore when Summer cometh the blade of the corn withereth with roots and all. So it is with these professors: they have in their hearts some good motions by the holy Ghost, to that which is good: they have a kind of zeal to Gods word, they have a liking to good things, and they are as forward as any other for a time, and they do believe. But these good motions and graces are not lasting, but ⟨image 6⟩like the flame and flashing of straw and stubble: neither are they sufficient to salvation.
If this be so, it may be then required, how these vnsounde professours differ from true professours. I answere, in this they differ, that they haue not sounde hearts to cleaue vnto Christ Iesus for euer. Which appeareth in that they are compared to stonie grounde. Now, stony groundes mingled with some earth are commonly hot, and therefore haue as it were some alacrity and hastines in them, and the corne as soone as it is cast into this ground it sprouteth out very speedily, but yet the stones wil not suffer the corne to be rooted deepely beneath, and therefore when Summer commeth the blade of the corne withereth with roots and all. So it is with these professours: they haue in their hearts some good motions by the holy Ghost, to that which is good: they haue a kinde of zeale to Gods worde, they haue a liking to good things, and they are as forwarde as any other for a time, and they doe beleeue. But these good motions and graces are not lasting, but ⟨image 6⟩like the flame and flashing of strawe and stubble: neither are they sufficiēt to saluatiō.