A09466:288
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.
And now the Devil changed both his coat and his note, & in fearful manner cried in my ears, that I was a reprobate, his child: that none of Gods children were as I am, that this grief of my soul was the beginning of hell. And the greater was my pain, because I durst not open my mind unto any for fear they should have mocked me, and have made a jest of it. Wherefore I was fain to go to a godly learned Preacher: I showed mine estate unto him? after I had continued with him the space of two or three days. I received comfort both by the promises of mercy, which he showed me in the book of God, and by his fervent godly and effectual prayers: and I thank God ever since I have had some assurance (in spite of the Devil) that I do appertain to the kingdom of heaven, and am now a member of Jesus Christ, and shall so continue for ever.
And now the Deuill changed both his coate and his note, & in fearefull manner cryed in my eares, that I was a reprobate, his childe: that none of Gods children were as I am, that this griefe of my soule was the beginning of hell. And the greater was my paine, because I durst not open my minde vnto anie for feare they shoulde haue mocked mee, and haue made a iest of it. Wherefore I was fayne to go to a godlie learned Preacher: I shewed myne estate vnto him? after I had continued with him the space of two or three daies. I receiued comfort both by the promises of mercie, which hee shewed mee in the booke of God, and by his feruent godlie and effectuall prayers: and I thanke God euer since I haue had some assurance (in spite of the Deuill) that I doe apperteine to the kingdome of heauen, and am nowe a member of Iesus Christ, and shall so continue for euer.
Timoth. How know you that God hath forgiven your sin?
Timoth. How know you that God hath forgiuen your sinne?