A09466:367
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 understand you well. As I am a member of the spiritual body of Christ I must in all my conversation follow him with patience, meekness, and long suffering, overcoming other mens evils with welldoing: yet if the hurt be greater then I can bear, I must take a new person on me, and if I be a ruler, with love seek amendment, if a subject, then in the fear of God, complain to my ruler. But further I pray you soil me this doubt. If I shall be taken for a soldier, me thinks that I should then shake off all love and meekness, & then I could not practise this Christian rule.
Timoth. I vnderstand you well. As I am a member of the spirituall bodie of Christ I must in all my conuersation follow him with patience, meekenes, and long suffering, ouercomming other mens euils with weldoing: yet if the hurt be greater then I can beare, I must take a new person on me, and if I be a ruler, with loue seeke amendment, if a subiect, then in the feare of God, complaine to my ruler. But further I pray you soile me this doubt. If I shall be taken for a soldier, me thinks that I should then shake off all loue and meekenes, & then I could not practise this Christian rule.
Euseb. Yes, if our Queen (God save her grace) should send you on warfare into another country, you must obey at Gods commandment, and go and avenge your Princes quarrel, which you know not but that it is right. When you come thither, remember the two stats in which ⟨p. 191⟩you are: and know that in the first state, that is, the regiment spiritual, you must love them with whom you fight, and that they are your brethren bought with Christs blood, as well as you, and for Christs sake hate them not, yet as you are in the second state a Soldier at your Princes commandment, you must fight against them, and maintain your Princes quarrel, and bring them under her power: and therewithal be content with your Princes wages, neither desire your adversaries life or goods, save to advantage your Prince. So then a Soldier need not cast away meekness, for he may fight with his enemy and slay him, and yet love him.