A09466:354
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.
Tim. Many of us have our selves, wife, children, father, mother, & kinsfolk to relieve, so that it will be hard to deal after this manner.
Tim. Many of vs haue our selues, wife, children, father, mother, & kinsfolke to relieue, so yt it wil be hard to deale after this manner.
Euseb. Had not these men I named, so? yea I warrant you had they. And the want of love which you deem of the Gospel of Christ, knoweth not that a man should begin at himself & then descend I wot not by what steps. Love1 seeketh not her own profit, but maketh a man to forget himself, & turn this profit to another man, as Christ sought not himself or his own profit but ours. This term (my self) is not in the gospel, neither yet father, mother sister, brother, kinsman, that one should in love be preferred before another. The love that springeth out of Christ excludeth no man, neither putteth difference between one & other. In Christ we are all of one degree without respect of persons. Notwithstanding though a Christian mans hart be open to all men & receiveth all men, yet because his ability of goods extendeth not so far, ⟨p. 184⟩this provision is made that every man should care for his own household, as father, mother, thine elders that have holpen thee, wife, children and servants. When a man hath done his duty to his household, and yet hath further abundance of the blessing of God, that he oweth to the poor that cannot labour and cannot get work, and ar• destitute of friends, to the poor I mean which he knoweth, and to them of his own parish. For that provision ought to be had in the Church, that every parish provide for the poor. If his neighbours which he knoweth be served, then is he debtor to the brethren a thousand miles off, if he hear of their necessity, & have himself any plenty: yea, to the very Infidels he is a debtor if they need, as far forth as he doth not maintain them against Christ. Thus is every man that needeth my help, my father, mother, sister, & brother in Christ: even as every man that doth the will of the father, is father, mother, sister, and brother unto Christ.