A09466:369
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. Another thing I would know of you, which now cometh to my mind, I have a Landlord, he seemeth to be a very good man, he countenanceth all the good preachers in our country, & he rideth usually ten miles to hear sermons: I hold of him an house & a little land, not scarce enough to find my poor family: my lease is come out & I have taken a new lease, but I have paid such a great fine, and my yearly rents are so racked, that I fear I & all my household are like to beg our bread, this is it disquieteth ⟨p. 192⟩me, and almost maketh me at my wits end, what is your counsel and advise?
Timoth. Another thing I would knowe of you, which now commeth to my minde, I haue a Landlord, he seemeth to be a verye good man, he countenanceth all the good prechers in our country, & he rideth vsually ten miles to hear sermons: I hold of him an house & a little land, not scarse enough to find my poore family: my lease is come out & I haue taken a new lease, but I haue paide such a great fine, and my yearly rents are so racked, that I feare I & all my houshold are like to beg our bread, this is it disquieteth ⟨p. 192⟩me, and almost maketh me at my wits end, what is your counsell and aduise?
Euseb. Surely it maketh my heart to bleed to see how many men brag of the Gospel, and yet what little fruit the gospel hath in them, and what little love they show, even they which abound in rents and lands. My poor advise is this, that you would with patience depend upon Gods providence. It is said, blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, Then let all the world study to do you wrong, yea let them study to bring you to extreme misery, and do it too: yet if you be meek, you shall have food and raiment enough for you & yours: And no doubt, God (who is always true of his promise) shall raise up some to help you. And my counsel is that you give your landlord now and then a Capon, now a pig, now a Goose, and if you be able a lamb or a Calf, and let your wife visit your Land-lady now and then with spiced cakes, with apples, pears cherries and such like: and be you ready with your Oxen, or horses, five or six times in the year, to fetch home thei wood, to plough their land, then no doubt God may soften their hearts & move them