A09466:276
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.
Timotheus. Because of our ancient acquaintance and familiarity (dear friend Eusebius) I will make bold with you to ask such questions as may be for my edification and comfort, and of no other matters but even of religion, whereof I see you are an old professor. And first of all, let me be bold to ask this question of you, how it pleased God to make you a true Christian, and a member of Christ Jesus whom I see you serve continually with a fervent zeal.
TImotheus. Because of our auncient acquaintance and familiaritie (deare friende Eusebius) I will make bolde with you to aske such questions as may be for my edification and comfort, and of no other matters but euen of religion, whereof I see you are an olde professor. And first of all, let me be bold to aske this question of you, how it pleased God to make you a true Christian, and a member of Christ Iesus whom I see you serue continually with a feruent zeale.
Eusebius. For that old acquaintance that was between us, and for that you are desirous to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, I will not conceal the good work of my God in me: therefore I pray you mark a little what I shall say, and I will declare unto you the truth even forth of the feeling of mine own conscience. The fall of Adam did make me the heir of vengeance and wrath of God, and heir of eternal damnation, and did bring me into captivity and bondage under the Devil: And the Devil was my Lord and my ruler, my head, my governor, and my prince, yea, and my god. And my will was locked & knit faster unto the will of the Devil, then could an hundred thousand chains bind a man unto a post. Unto the Devils will did I consent with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my might, power, strength, will and life: so that the law and will of the Devil, was written as well in my heart, as in my members, and I ran headlong after the Devil with full soul, and the whole swing of all the power I had: as a stone cast up into the air cometh down naturally of it self with all the violent swing of his own weight. O with what deadly & venomous heart did ⟨p. 123⟩I hate mine enemies? with how great malice of mind inwardly did I slay and murder? With what violence and rage, yea with what fervent lust committed I adultery, fornication, and such like uncleanness? With what pleasure and delectation like a glutton served I my belly? With what diligence deceived I? Howe busily sought I the things of the world? whatsoever I did work, imagine or speak, was abominable in the sight of God, for I could refer nothing unto the honour of GOD: neither was his law or will written in my members or in my hart, neither was there any more power in me to follow the will of GOD then in a stone to ascend upward of it self. And besides that I was a sleep in so deep blindness that I could neither see nor feel in what misery, thraldom, and wretchedness I was, till Moses came and awaked me and published the law.