A09466:281
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.
Timoth. Yea, but me thinks you do too much condemn your self in respect of sin. For I can remember that from your child-hood your were of a good and gentle nature, and your behaviour was always honest and civill, and you could never abide the company of them which were roisters and ruffians, and swearers, and blasphemers and contemners of Gods word, and drunkards, which now are termed good fellows. And your dealing with all men hath been ever commended for good, faithful and just. What mean you then to make your self so abominable and accursed, and to say, you were so wholly addicted unto wickedness, and your will so fearfully and miserably in captivity unto the will of the Devil.
Timoth. Yea, but mee thinkes you doe too much condemne your self in respect of sinne. For I can remember that from your child-hood your were of a good and gentle nature, and your behauior was alwaies honest and ciuill, and you could neuer abide the companie of them which were roisters and ruffians, and swearers, and blasphemers and contemners of Gods word, and drunkards, which nowe are tearmed good fellowes. And your dealing with all men hath beene euer commended for good, faithfull and iust. What meane you then to make your self so abhominable and accursed, and to say, you were so wholie addicted vnto wickednesse, and your will so fearefully and miserablie in captiuitie vnto the will of the Diuell.
Euseb. Brother Timoth. I know what I say, God give me grace to speak it with ⟨p. 129⟩more lively feeling of my weakness, & with a more bitter detestation of my sin. By nature through the fall of Adam am I the child of wrath, heir of the vengeance of God by birth: yea and so from my first conception: And I had my fellowship with the damned devils under the power of darkness and rule of Satan, while I was yet in my mothers womb: and although I showed not the fruits of sin as soon as I was born nor long after: yet was I full of the natural poison, from whence all wicked deeds do spring, & cannot but sin outwardly, as soon as I am able to work (be I never so young) if occasion be given: for my nature is to sin as is the nature of a serpent to sting: and as a Serpent yet young, or yet unbrought forth is full of poison and cannot afterward (when time and occasion is given,) but bring forth the fruits thereof. And as an Adder, a Toad, or a Snake is hated of man, not for the evil it hath done, but for the poison that is in it, and hurt which it cannot but do: so am I hated of God, for that natural poison which is conceived and borne with me before I do any outward evil. And as the evil which a venomous worm doth, maketh it not a serpent,