A09466:270
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.
Which John signifieth, when he saith that he csaw a pure river of water of life, clear as Crystal proceeding out of the throne of God & of the Lamb; there being by either side of it the tree of life which bare two manner of fruits, and gave fruit every month. And whereas God is continually to be worshipped in heaven: they need no other tabernacle or temple thereunto, but God himself shall be their temple: as John saith, dI saw no temple therein: for the Lord God almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Fourthly, from this glorious communion which is between God and Christ as he is man, and all the saints which are his members, there ariseth an unspeakable joy and gladness wherewith they are filled. David saith, ethat Gods children shall be satisfied with the fatness of his house, and that he shall give them drink out of the rivers of his pleasures. This ⟨p. 116⟩joy undoubtedly is infinite, and the Saints are not only replenished with it but they are also swallowed up of it as with an huge and infinite sea of waters, as may appear in Peter, who at the transfiguration of Christ, was so ravished out of measure with joy at the sight of it that he quite forgot himself, saying fto Christ, Master it is good being here: let us make three tabernacles here, one for thee, one for Moses, and an other for Elijah. Lastly, out of this communion ariseth a perfect love of God whereby the Saints love God with all their hearts, with all their souls, and strength, and this love showeth it self in that they are eternally occupied in gworshipping God by singing of songs of praise and thanks giving unto him. Now then seeing the kingdom of heaven is so glorious, and none can have it but the true Christian, let all men account the best things in this world has dross and dung, so that they may obtain Christ and his righteousness.