A09466:236
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.
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.
- 1No feeling.No feling.
1 The poor soul lying as a man desolatea 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 thisl his request.
1 The poore soule lying as a mā desolatea 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 thisl his request.
- aCant. c. 3. ver. 1.
- bver. 2.
- cver. 3.
- dver. 4.
- ever. 5.
- fver. 9.
- gver. 8. 9. 10.
- hvers. 11.
- icap. 4. ver. 1. to the 15.
- kver. 16.
- 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 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.
- aver. 2.
- bver. 3.
- cver. 4.
- dver. 5.
- ever. 6.
- fver. 7.
- gver. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13 14. 15. 16.
- hver. 17.
- iCap. 6. ver. 1.
- kver. 2.
- lver. 3. to the 7. ver. of cap. 7.
LVII1
- 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:
1 At the first his heart is usually dulled •nd made secure with sin. 2 Yet after a while there ariseth in his ⟨p. 98⟩hart a godly sorrow: which is when he is grieved for the only cause, that by his sin he hath displeased God, who hath been to him so loving & merciful a father, whose favour he would be content to purchase, (so he might have it and obtain it, even with the damnation of his own soul. 3 nThen he begins to repent himself of his sins renewing a fresh his former repentance. 4 u This repentance he showeth by 7. signs
1 At the first his heart is vsually dulled •nd made secure with sinne. 2 Yet after a while there ariseth in his ⟨p. 98⟩hart a godlie sorrow: which is when hee is greued for the only cause, that by his sin he hath displeased God, who hath bene to him so louing & mercifull a father, whose fauor he would be content to purchasse, (so hee might haue it and obtaine it, euen with the damnation of his owne soule. 3 nThē he begins to repent himself of his sins renewing a fresh his former repentāce. 4 u This repentāce he sheweth by 7. signes
1 A care to leave that sin into which he is fallen. As they which crucified our saviour Christ, when they were pricked in their harts at Peters Sermon, they showed this care in saying, omen & brethren what shall we do to be saved. 2 An Apology, which is when a man in the heaviness of his hart, shall not excuse or defend his sin, but confess it to the lord & utterly condemn himself for it: acknowledging withal that there is no way to escape yt wrath of god, but by having gods free pardon in christ.
1 A care to leaue that sin into which he is fallē. As they which crucified our sauior Christ, whē they were pricked in their harts at Peters Sermō, they shewed this care in saiing, omen & brethren what shal we do to be saued. 2 An Apologie, which is whē a man in the heauines of his hart, shall not excuse or defend his sin, but cōfesse it to the lord & vtter ly condēne himselfe for it: acknowledging withal yt there is no way to escape yt wrath of god, but by hauing gods fre pardō in christ.
3 Indignation which is an inward anger and fretting against his own self, because he was so careless, in looking to his own ways. Peter when he had denied his master, he wept & that bitterly which showeth that with sorrow, he had also an anger against himself.1
3 Indignation which is an inward anger and fretting against his owne selfe, because he was so carelesse, in looking to his owne waies. Peter whē he had denied his maister, he wept & that bitterly which sheweth yt with sorow, he had also an anger against himself.1
- 1p Math. 26. 75.
4 A fear rising not so much from the judgments ⟨p. 99⟩of God, as from this lest he should hereafter fall into the same sin again, and by so doing more grievously displease God. 5 A desire ever after more carefully to please god. 6 Zeal in the service of God.
4 A feare rising not so much frō the iudgments ⟨p. 99⟩of God, as frō this lest he shold hereafter fall into the same sin againe, and by so doing more greeuouslie displease God. 5 A desire euer after more carefully to plese god. 6 Zeale in the seruice of God.
7 Revenge upon himself for his former offences: for example if a man sin in surfeiting and drunkenness, if he ever repent, he will bring under his corrupt nature by sparing and moderating himself
7 Reuenge vpon himselfe for his former offences: for example if a man sin in surfetting and dronkennes, if he euer repent, hee will bring vnder his corrupt nature by sparing and moderating himselfe
LVIII
The sixth temptation is outward afflictions.1 which the godly in this life must suffer. aIf any will go after Christ, he must deny himself, take up his own cross & follow him. bAnd S. Peter saith, that judgment begins at Gods house: cAnd Paul that we must enter into the kingdom of heaven through manifold temptations. The exercise of a Christian in afflictions is this.
The sixt temptation is outward afflictiōs.1 which the godly in this life must suffer. aIf any will go after Christ, he must denie himself, take vp his owne crosse & follow him. bAnd S. Peter saith, that iudgment begins at Gods house: cAnd Paul that we must enter into the kingdome of heauen through manifold temptations. The exercise of a Christian in afflictions is this.
- 16 Outward affections.
- aMath. 16 24.
- b1. Pet. 4. 17.
- cAct. 14. 22.