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…

3 He delighteth himself in Christ, and hath some enjoying of his benefits.

3 He delighteth himselfe in Christ, and hath some inioying of his benefits.

4 ^cThen he comes into the assembly of the Church, as into Gods wine-cellar, that in the word and sacraments, he may feel a greater measure of the love of Christ.

4 ^cThen he comes into the assemblie of the Church, as into Gods wine-celler, that in the word and sacraments, he may feele a greater measure of the loue of Christ.

1. cvers. 4.

5 But he ^*falls love sick: that is he becomes troubled in spirit, because he cannot eioy the presence of Christ in the said manner, as he would.

5 But he ^*falles loue sicke: that is hee becomes troubled in spirit, because he cannot eioy the presence of Christ in the saide manner, as he would.

1. *ver. 5.

1. dver. 6. 7.
2. ever. 8.

7 ^fAfter this Christ comes nearer, but the Christian can no otherwise enjoy him, then a man enjoys the company of his friend, who is on the other side of a wall, looking at him through the grate or lattice.

7 ^fAfter this Christ comes neerer, but the Christian can no otherwise enioy him, then a man enioyes the companie of his friend, who is on the other side of a wall, looking at him through the grate or lattesse.

1. fver. 9.

8 Then his eyes are opened, to see the causes, why Christ so withdraws himself, to be his ^gown security and negligence in seeking to Christ, his slackness in spiritual exercises, as in prayer and thanks-giving, ⟨p. 94⟩the deceitfulness and malice of false teachers.

8 Then his eyes are opened, to see the causes, why Christ so withdrawes himselfe, to be his ^gowne securitie and negligence in seeking to Christ, his slacknes in spirituall exercises, as in prayer and thankes-giuing, ⟨p. 94⟩the deceiptfulnesse and malice of false teachers.

1. g10. 11. 12. 13. 14, 15.

9 ¹Then he comes to feel more lively his fellowship with Christ.

9 ¹Then he comes to feele more liuelie his fellowship with Christ.

1. 1ver. 17.

10 Lastly, he prayeth that Christ would continue with him to the end.

10 Lastlie, he prayeth that Christ would continue with him to the end.

LV

The third temptation is, trouble of mind,¹ because there is no feeling of Christ at all, who seemeth to be departed for a time. The exercise of a christian in this tentation is this.

The third temptation is, trouble of mind,¹ because there is no feeling of Christ at all, who seemeth to be departed for a time. The exercise of a christiā in this tentatiō is this.

1. 1No feeling.No feling.

1 The poor soul lying as a man desolate^a in the night without comfort, seeks for Christ by private prayer & meditation, but it will not prevail. 2 ^bHe useth the help, counsel, & prayer of godly brethren yet Christ cannot be found. 3 ^cThen he seeks to godly ministers, to receive some comfort by them, by their means he can feel none. 4 ^dAfter that all means have been thus used, and none will prevail, then by Gods great mercy, when he hath least hope, he finds Christ, & feels him come again. 5 Presently his faith reviveth, and layeth faster hold on Christ. 6 And he hath an earnest fellowshipp• ⟨p. 95⟩with Christ in his hart, as before. 7 ^eThen comes again the joy of the holy ghost: & the peace of conscience as a sweet sleep falls upon him. 8 ^fThen his hart ariseth up into heaven by holy affections and prayers, which do as pillars of smoke mount upward, sweet as myrrh & incense. 9 ^gAlso he is ravished there with the meditation of the glorious estate of the kingdom of heaven. 10 ^hHe labours to bring others to consider the glory of Christ & his kingdom. 11 ⁱAfter all this Christ reveals to his servant, what his blessed estate is both in this life, & in the life to come, more clearly than ever before, & makes him see those graces which he hath bestowed on him. 12 ^kThen the Christian prayeth that Christ would breath on him by his holy spirit, that he may bring forth the fruits of those graces which are in him. 13 Lastly, Christ granteth him this^l his request.

1 The poore soule lying as a mā desolate^a in the night without comfort, seekes for Christ by priuate prayer & meditation, but it will not preuaile. 2 ^bHe vseth the helpe, counsel, & praier of godlie brethren yet Christ cannot bee found. 3 ^cThen hee seekes to godly ministers, to receiue some comfort by them, by their meanes he can feele none. 4 ^dAfter that all meanes haue bene thus vsed, and none will preuaile, then by Gods great mercie, when he hath least hope, hee finds Christ, & feeles him come againe. 5 Presently his faith reuiueth, and layeth faster hold on Christ. 6 And he hath an earnest fellowshipp• ⟨p. 95⟩with Christ in his hart, as before. 7 ^eThen comes againe the ioye of the holie ghost: & the peace of conscience as a sweete sleepe falles vpon him. 8 ^fThen his hart ariseth vp into heauen by holie affections and prayers, which doe as pillers of smoke mount vpward, sweet as myrrhe & incense. 9 ^gAlso hee is rauished there with the meditatiō of the glorious estate of the kingdome of heauen. 10 ^hHe labours to bring others to consisider the glorie of Christ & his kingdome. 11 ⁱAfter all this Christ reueiles to his seruāt, what his blessed estate is both in this life, & in the life to come, more cleerely thē euer before, & makes him see those graces which he hath bestowed on him. 12 ^kThen the Christian prayeth that Christ would breath on him by his holy spirite, that hee may bring forth the fruites of those graces which are in him. 13 Lastlie, Christ graunteth him this^l his request.

1. aCant. c. 3. ver. 1.
2. bver. 2.
3. cver. 3.
4. dver. 4.
5. ever. 5.
6. fver. 9.
7. gver. 8. 9. 10.
8. hvers. 11.
9. icap. 4. ver. 1. to the 15.
10. kver. 16.
11. lver. 1. c. 5.

LVI.

The fourth temptation is security of hart,¹ rising of overmuch delight in the pleasures of the world. The exercise of a Christian in ⟨p. 96⟩this temptation is this.

The fourth temptation is securitie of hart,¹ rising of ouermuch delight in the pleasures of the world. The exercise of a Christian in ⟨p. 96⟩this temptation is this.

1. 14 A spiritual slumber in worldly pleasures. Cant. 5.4 A spirituall slumber in worldly pleasures. Cant. 5.

1 He slumbers and is half a sleep in the pleasures of this world. 2 Christ by his word and spirit labours to withdraw him from his pleasures, and ^ato make him more heartily receive his beloved. 3 But he ^bdelayeth to do it being loth to leave his ease and sweet delights. 4 ^cThen Christ awakes him and stirs up his heart: by making him to see the vanity of his pleasures. 5 He then begins to be more earnestly affected towards Christ. 6 ^dWith sorrow he sets his heart to have fellowship with Christ after his old manner: and this he expresseth by bringing forth sweet fruits of righteousness. 7 ^eThen he feeleth that Christ hath withdrawn his spirit. 8 He almost despairs for this. 9 Yet by private prayer seeks for Christ. 10 ^fWhen that will not help, he resorts to the ministers of the word, at whose hands he finds no comfort, but discomfort. 11 ^gNot recovering his first estate, through impatience of the love of Christ, he makes his misery known to strangers, ⟨p. 97⟩to see if they can comfort him, and he somewhat comforts himself in describing Christs excellency to them. 12 ^hThey then are ravished with him to seek Christ, and require then to know where to find him. 13 ⁱAnswer is made in the assemblies of the Church. 14 ^kAfter this communication the Christians faith and feeling reviveth, Christ returning to him again. 15 ^lThen Christ assureth him in his hart, of his love and liking towards him. 16 Giving further assurance to him that he shall grow up and be made fruitful in every good grace. 17 m After this the Christian comes in such a high measure to love Christ, that nothing shall be able to sever him from Christ.

1 He slumbers and is halfe a sleepe in the pleasures of this world. 2 Christ by his word and spirit labours to withdrawe him from his pleasures, and ^ato make him more heartilie receiue his beloued. 3 But he ^bdelayeth to doe it beeing loth to leaue his ease and sweet delights. 4 ^cThen Christ awakes him and stirres vp his heart: by making him to see the vanitie of his pleasures. 5 He then beginnes to be more earnestlie affected towards Christ. 6 ^dWith sorrowe hee settes his heart to haue fellowship with Christ after his olde manner: and this he expresseth by bringing foorth sweete fruites of righteousnes. 7 ^eThen hee feeleth that Christ hath withdrawen his spirit. 8 He almost dispaires for this. 9 Yet by priuate praier seeks for Christ. 10 ^fWhen that will not helpe, he resorts to the ministers of the word, at whose hands hee finds no comfort, but discomfort. 11 ^gNot recouering his first estate, through impatience of the loue of Christ, hee makes his miserie knowen to strangers, ⟨p. 97⟩to see if they can comforte him, and hee somewhat comforts himselfe in describing Christes excellencie to them. 12 ^hThey then are rauished with him to seeke Christ, and require then to knowe where to finde him. 13 ⁱAnswere is made in the assemblies of the Church. 14 ^kAfter this cōmunication the Christians faith and feeling reuiueth, Christ returning to him againe. 15 ^lThē Christ assureth him in his hart, of his loue and liking towards him. 16 Giuing further assurance to him that he shall grow vp and be made fruitfull in euerie good grace. 17 m After this the Christian comes in such a high measure to loue Christ, that nothing shal be able to seuer him from Christ.

1. aver. 2.
2. bver. 3.
3. cver. 4.
4. dver. 5.
5. ever. 6.
6. fver. 7.
7. gver. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13 14. 15. 16.
8. hver. 17.
9. iCap. 6. ver. 1.
10. kver. 2.
11. lver. 3. to the 7. ver. of cap. 7.

LVII¹

1. 15 A fall into some sin.5 A fal into some sinne.

The first temptation is a fall into some great sin, as Noah into drunkenness, David into adultery and murder, Peter into the denial of Christ. The exercise of a Christian in this temptation is this:

The first temptation is a fall into some great sin, as Noah into drunkennes, Dauid into adulterie and murder, Peter into the deniall of Christ. The exercise of a Christian in this temptation is this: