A09466:318
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. I perceive by your godly discourse, the manifold conflicts between the flesh and the spirit, and that the flesh is like to a mighty Giant, such a one as was Goliath, strong, lusty, stirring, enemy to God, confederate with the Devil: and the spirit; like to a little child, such a one as was little David, new borne, weak and feeble, not always stirring: now then what means do you use to weaken the flesh, and strengthen the spirit.
Timoth. I perceiue by your godlie discourse, the manifolde conflictes betweene the flesh and the spirite, and that the flesh is like to a mightie Giant, such a one as was Goliah, strong, lustie, stirring, enimie to God, confederate with the Diuell: and the spirite; like to a little childe, such a one as was little Dauid, new borne, weake and feeble, not alwaies stirring: nowe then what meanes do you vse to weaken the flesh, and strengthen the spirit.
Euseb. I use to tame my flesh with prayer and fasting, watching, deeds of mercy, holy meditations & reading the scriptures, and in bodily labour, and in with-drawing all manner of pleasures from the flesh, and with exercises contrary to the vices which I find in my body most inclined to, and with abstaining from all things that encourage the flesh against the spirit: as reading of toys and wanton books, seeing of ⟨p. 158⟩plays and interludes, wanton communication, foolish jesting, & effeminate thoughts and talking of covetousness, which Paul forbiddeth Eph. 5. magnifying of worldly promotions. If these will not mortify my flesh, then God sendeth me some troubles, and so maketh me to grow & wax perfect, and fineth and trieth me as gold in the fire of tentations and tribulations. Thus very often he maketh me to take up my cross & naileth my flesh unto it, for the mortifying thereof. Mark this if God send thee to the sea, & promise to go with thee, he will raise up a tempest against thee, to prove whether thou wilt abide by his word, and that thou mayest feel thy faith & weakness and perceive his goodness: for if it were always fair weather and thou never brought into such jeopardy, whence his mercy only delivereth thee, thy faith should be only a presumption, & thou shouldest be ever unthankful to God, and merciless unto thy neighbour. If God promise riches, the way thereunto is poverty: whom he loveth him he chasteneth: whom he exalteth, he casteth down: whom he saveth he first damneth: he bringeth no man to heaven, except he send him to hell first: if he promis