A09466:193
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.
XLIIII.
From sanctification ariseth repentance.1 For a man cannot hate his own sins before he be sanctified: and he cannot truly repent for them before he hate them. Repentance is when a man kturns to God, & brings forth fruits worthy amendment of life. This turning unto God hath two parts: The first a purpose and resolution of heart never to sin any more, but to lead a new life. This was in David, lwho fully purposed to keep Gods commandments and mapplied his heart to fulfil his statutes unto the end. And unto this did Barnabas exhort the brethren at Antioch nthat with full purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord. The second part is an holy labour in mans life and conversation to purify and cleanse himself from sin: of this speaketh John oAnd every one that ⟨p. 78⟩hath this hope in him, purgeth himself even as he is pure. This did David practise, as may appear in that he said: pCertainly, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. If any marvel how repentance followeth sanctification, considering it is the first thing of all, that the Prophets, Apostles, and Ministers of God preach unto the people whom they would win to Christ: I answer, that all other graces are more hidden in the heart, whereas repentance is open, and sooner appeareth to a mans own self, and to the eyes of the world. It is like the bud in the tree, which appeareth before the leaf, the blossom, the fruit: and yet in nature, it is the last, for a man must be renewed, and come to an utter disliking of his own sins, before he will turn from them, and leave them.