A09466:321
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. But how if it come to pass that you be tempted to any great sin, and the flesh overcome the spirit, in what case are you then?
Timoth. But how if it come to passe that you be tempted to anie great sinne, and the fleshe ouercome the spirit, in what case are you then?
Euseb. There is no body here but you & I, and I take you to be a Christian and a faithful friend: therefore I will show a little of my exhortation. The last year by reason of the dearth, I and my family were put to great pinches, and most commonly we had nothing but bread and water: here ⟨p. 161⟩upon I bethought me how I might get somewhat to relieve my family: It came into my mind that in our Town a rich man had a great flock of sheep, and that I might take one of them without any hurt of him. I was very loath at the first: but because there was such great stealing of sheep, & I was in extremity, in the night I went among his sheep and took a lamb, and told my family that it was given me: I presently killed it, the skin and the entrails I burned on my backside, the flesh we dressed by quarters, and did eat it with thanksgiving (as my manner is) but surely very coldly, and me thought my prayer was abominable in Gods sight. After I had thus done, we fared well for the space of two days, but I felt my heart hardened, and my lips were almost locked up, that I could not as I was wont praise the Lord. The third night after, I went with a quiet conscience (me thought) to my bed, and then I slept soundly till three of the clock in the morning, but I dreamed that one came to carry me to prison, upon that on a sudden I awaked and being afraid looked about me and fell to consider why I should ⟨p. 162⟩be afraid, and I remembered that I had sinned against God by robbing my neighbour: ô then my fear increased, and I thought that hell gaped to devour me, and the law looked upon me with such a terrible countenance, and so thundered in mine ears, that I durst not abide in my bed, but up & to go. Then the Devil assailed me on every side, to persuade that God had cast me away: saying, they that be Gods, have power to keep his law, thou hast not, but breakest them: Therefore thou art a cast-away and a damned creature, & hell gapeth and setteth open his mouth to devour thee. And I thought with my self that I had been always a rank hypocrite, for as the clouds of the air do cover the sun, so that sometimes a man cannot tell by any sense that there is any Sun, the clouds & winds hiding it from our sight: