A09466:395
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
The Assertion. › Argument 2 › The proof.The Assertion. › Argument 2 › The proofe.
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.
Again, 1Blessed is the man▪ (saith David) whose sins are pardoned: where he maketh remission of sins to be true felicity: now there is no true felicity but that which is enjoyed, and felicity cannot be enjoyed, unless it be felt, and it cannot be felt, unless a man know himself to be in possession of it, & a man cannot know himself to be in possession of it, if he doubt whether he hath it or not: and therefore this doubting of the remission of sins is contrary to true felicity, & is nothing else but a torment of the conscience. For a man cannot doubt whether his sins be pardoned or not, but strait way (if his conscience be not seared with an hot iron) the very thought of his sin will strike a great fear into him: for the fear of eternal death, and the horror of Gods judgements will come to his remembrance, the consideration of which is most terrible. Undoubtedly, this religion must needs be comfortless. Alas poor men as we are, we are no better then2 passengers in this world, our way it is in the middle of the Sea, where we can have no sure footing at all, and which way so ever we cast our eyes, we see nothing but water, even opening it self to devour us ⟨p. 205⟩quick: the Devil and our rebellious flesh raise up against us infinite thousands of tempests and storms to overthrow us: but behold, God of his great and endless mercy hath brought us to Christ, as to a sure Anchor hold: he biddeth us to undo our Gables, and fling up our Anchors within the veil, and fasten them in Christ: we do it as we are commanded, but a Sister of ours (I mean the Church of Rome)3 passing in the Ship with us (as it seemeth) who hath long taken upon her to rule the helm, dealeth too too unkindly with us: she unlooseth our Anchors, and cutteth in pieces our Gables, she telleth us that we may not presume to fasten our Anchor on the rock: she will have us freely to rove in the middle of the Sea in the greatest fogs, and the fearfullest tempests that be: if we shall follow her advise, we must needs look for a Shipwreck, for the least flaw of wind shall overturn us, and our poor souls shall be plunged in the gulfs of hell.