A09466:341
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. By this I also can gather that the Papists which cannot read the Scriptures except they fall into errors have not the spirit of Christ working in them, and teaching them, but the lying spirit of Antichrist the Devil, and that if God would give them any true feeling, and open their eyes they would quite change their minds. But what other exercises have you?
Timoth. By this I also can gather that the Papists which cannot reade the Scriptures except they fall into errours haue not the spirite of Christ working in them, and teaching them, but the lying spirite of Antichrist the Diuel, and that if God woulde giue them anie true feeling, and open their eies they would quite change their minds. But what other exercises haue you?
Euseb. Prayer and thanksgiving to God. For God hath promised very bountifully unto them which pray in truth, and it is one of the greatest comforts I have at all times. Again, God which commandeth me not to steal, commandeth me also to pray, and his will is, that one commandment should be as well kept as an other: and therefore ⟨p. 177⟩I am persuaded that condemnation will befall me as well for the one as for the other. And that prayer ought to be continually even in every thing a man doth, me thinketh it most agreeable to Gods will. For if I should come into my neighbours house and take his goods, and use them, not borrowing them or asking any leave, they would lay hands on me, and make me a thief. The world and all the things in the world are the Lords, not mine: so then if I shall daily use them, never seeking to the Lord by prayer for the use of them, before God I am an usurper, nay a rank thief, and therefore I desire of God heartily that I may use all his good creatures with fear and reverence, and that I may sanctify his name in them, which Paul showeth me to be done by the word of God and prayer, the word showing me the lawful use of his creatures: prayer obtaining at Gods hands, that I may use them aright. If this practise were used of men in their professions and callings, I am persuaded there would be a thousand vices •ut off which are in every man most abundant and are committed without shame. Timoth. I think the rest of your Christian exercises be the practising of the commandments