A09466:342
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.
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 ⟨p. 178⟩of the law.
Euseb. Praier and thankesgiuing to God. For God hath promised verie bountifullie vnto them which praie in truth, and it is one of the greatest comforts I haue at all times. Again, God which commandeth me not to steale, commandeth me also to pray, and his will is, that one commandement should be as well kept as an other: and therfore ⟨p. 177⟩I am perswaded that condemnation will befall me as well for the one as for the other. And that praier ought to be continuallie euen in euerie thing a man doth, me thinketh it most agreeable to Gods will. For if I shoulde come into my neighbours house and take his goods, and vse them, not borrowing them or asking anie leaue, they would laie handes on mee, and make mee a thiefe. The world and all the thinges in the world are the Lords, not mine: so then if I shall dailie vse them, neuer seeking to the Lorde by praier for the vse of them, before God I am an vsurper, nay a ranke thief, and therfore I desire of God heartily that I may vse all his good creatures with feare and reuerence, and that I may sanctifie his name in thē, which Paule sheweth me to be done by the worde of God and praier, the worde showing me the lawful vse of his creatures: praier obtaining at Gods hands, that I may vse them aright. If this practise were vsed of men in their professions and callings, I am perswaded there would be a thousand vices ut off which are in euerie mā most abounant and are committed without shame. Timoth. I thinke the rest of your Christin exercises bee the practising of the commandements