A09466:303
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.
In times past, I came to prayers and to the preaching of Gods word even as a Bear cometh to the stake, ⟨p. 140⟩now the word of God is meat and drink to me, and prayer is no burden unto me, but my ordinary exercise. If I rise in the morning I am not well till I have prayed and given thanks to God, if I do any thing it cometh into my mind to pray. In my prayers I find great joy and comfort and the exceeding favour of God, I never think I can well take my rest, or do any thing else except first I ask it at Gods hand in Christ. Lastly, when my mind and heart is wholly occupied in worldly matters, I am stirred up, and as it were drawn to pray unto God for the remission of my sins, and the assurance of my salvation, and in prayer I have had those groans which for their greatness cannot be expressed. Now from whence cometh all this? From the Devil? No. In these actions I have found him my enemy, and a continual hinderer of them. For he by his craft when I have been heavy and weak, hath assailed to provoke me to some sins whereunto my cursed nature was most given. and I having yielded to him, have been so hardened and blinded by those sins, that for a time I have made light account of the word of God and prayer. Well then, peradventure ⟨p. 141⟩this came from mine own self? No neither. This cursed nature of mine hath been more pleased and delighted with sin, and with the pleasures of the world, then with such exercises, from which it draweth me & presseth me down as lead. I cannot think that such a poisoning Cockatrice can lay such good eggs, or that wild crab trees (such as all men are in Adam) can bring forth sweet fruits according to the will of God, except God pluck them forth of Adam, and plant them in the garden of his mercy, and stock them, and graft the spirit of Christ in them. Wherefore these are the works of Gods spirit, and my conscience is thereby certified that God hath given me the spirit of adoption, and therefore that his favour and mercy shall continue towards me for ever. For the gifts of God are without repentance, and whom God once loveth, him he loveth for ever. Thirdly, there be certain fruits of Gods children which I find in me, by which I am confirmed in Gods favour.
In times past, I came to praiers and to the preaching of Gods word euen as a Beare commeth to the stake, ⟨p. 140⟩