A09466:261
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.
The cause why a Christian cannot fall away1 from grace, is this: after that he is sanctified, he receiveth from god another special grace, which may be called Corroboration. For he hath in him not only the sanctifying, but also the strengthening power of Christ. Therefore Paul prayeth for the Ephesians, ithat they may be strengthened in the inner man: for the Colossians, kthat they might be strengthened with the glorious power of Christ. And of himself he saith lthat he is able to do all things through the power of Christ that strengthen him mDavid saith, that God reneweth them that fear him, as the Eagle reneweth her decayed strength. nAnd Job shows worthily that they, which by preaching of the word are reconciled unto God, are restored again and gather new strength, so that their flesh becomes as the flesh of young children. From hence as from a special cause ariseth patience & perseverance unto the end: for when a man is supported by the power of Christ, he may be able to bear many crosses patiently with a con •ented mind7 & persevere in bearing of it how long so ever the cross endureth. Thus much of the estate ⟨p. 107⟩of a Christian in this life. Now I will ad8 some reasons in the way of persuasion to all men but especially to worldlings, & to loose professors of the Gospel, that they would utterly deny themselves d& use all means to become true Christians by being made new creatures in Christ, and