A09466:183
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.
XXXIX
The second affection is the fear of God,1 a most excellent and wonderful grace of ⟨p. 74⟩God. Solomon ematcheth it, yea and preferreth it too, before all things in this world, making it the end of all. Without it a man cannot be wise, it is the first steppe to wisdom, fin it is assured strength: also it is a wellspring of life to eschew the snares of death. The Churches of Judea being in peace, were edified, and walked in the gfear of God, and were abundantly filled with the comfort of the holy Ghost. In this fear of God there be two parts: The first is a persuasion in the heart, that a man is in Gods presence, and when any by infirmity forgets God, a drawing of himself into Gods presence. As it was in David, hI have (saith he) set the Lord always before me. For he is at my right hand, therefore I shall not slide. And this his being in the presence of God, he setteth down most excellently in the 139. Psalm. iEnoch walked with God. kAbraham is commanded to walk before God, and to be upright. The second part of the fear of God is, in Gods presence to stand in awe of him; which is when a man takes heed to his ways lest he offend God. This advise David gives to Saul Counsellors.