A09466:545
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
Consolations for the troubled consciences of repentant Sinners.
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.
Christian. But this my trouble of mind, hath made me oftentimes fear lest God would reject me, and utterly deprive me of the kingdom of heaven.
Christian. But this my trouble of minde, hath made mee oftentimes feare lest God would reiect me, and vtterlie depriue me of the kingdome of heauen.
Minister. But there is no cause why it should so do. For how should heaven be your resting place, if on earth you were not troubled? how could God wipe away your tears from your eyes in heaven, if on earth1 you shed them not? You would be free from miseries, you look for heaven upon earth. But if you will go to heaven, the right way is to sail by hell. If you will sit at Christs table in his kingdom; you must be with him in his temptations. You are as Gods corn, you must therefore go under the flail, the fan, the millstone, and the oven, before you can be Gods bread. You ⟨p. 265⟩are one of Christs lambs, look therefore •o be fleeced, and to have the bloody knife •t your throat all the day long. If you were • mark sheep bought to be sold: you •hould be stalled and kept in a fat pasture: •ut you are for gods own occupying, therefore you must pasture on the bare common, •biding storms, tempests, Satan's snatches, the worlds wounds, contempt of conscience and frets of the flesh. But in •his your misery I will be a Simon unto you •o help you to carry your cross, so be it •ou will reveal your mind unto me.