A09466:267
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.
Thus they are always dying, and yet are never dead: Furthermore the length of this torment must be considered which greatly aggravates the pain. If a man might be delivered from the pangs of hell when he had suffered them so many years as there be drops in the sea or little sands in the whole earth, it were some comfort: but after that those years be expired there shall come no release, but the damned shall continue in shrieking, yelling and gnashing ⟨p. 111⟩of teeth, enduring the consuming heat of Gods wrath without any end for ever and ever. Yea to go further, a wicked man carrieth an hell about him in this life, namely, an evil conscience, which if it be never so little touched with any of Gods anger, a man shall feel himself to have even the pangs of hell in his heart. Now therefore all they that would escape out of this hellish and damnable estate, while they have time let them pray for the pardon of their sins in Christ, and walk according to the spirit in newness of life, and then they may assure themselves, that there is no condemnation can belong to them. And it must be always remembered that he which would live, when he is dead, must die while he is alive, namely to sin. And again he which would rise to eternal life in the day of judgement, must rise from sin before he die, unto newness of life.
Thus they are alwaies dying, and yet are neuer deade: Furthermore the length of this torment must bee considered which greatly aggrauates the paine. If a man might be deliuered from the panges of hell when he had suffered them so many yeares as there be droppes in the sea or little sands in the whole earth, it were some comfort: but after that those yeares be expired there shall come no release, but the damned shall continue in shriking, yelling and gnashing ⟨p. 111⟩of teeth, enduring the consuming heate of Gods wrath without any ende for euer and euer. Yea to goe further, a wicked man carrieth an hell about him in this life, namely, an euill conscience, which if it bee neuer so litle touched with any of Gods anger, a mā shall feele himselfe to haue euen the panges of hell in his heart. Nowe therefore all they that woulde escape out of this hellish and damnable estate, while they haue time let them pray for the pardon of their sinnes in Christ, and walke according to the spirite in newnes of life, and then they may assure themselues, that there is no condemnation can belong to them. And it must be alwaies remembred that he which would liue, when he is dead, must die while he is aliue, namely to sinne. And againe he which would rise to eternall life in the daie of iudgement, must rise from sin before he die, vnto newnes of life.