A09466:55
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.
XIX.
After that he hath received a general, & a temporal faith in Gods heavenly word, and his most merciful promises of everlasting life contained therein, by the power of the spirit of God, fhe cometh to have a taste in his heart of the sweetness of Gods mercies, and a rejoicing, in consideration of the election, adoption, justification, and sanctification of Gods children. But what is this taste? I express it thus, after the meaning of Gods word. Suppose a banquet prepared, in which are many sweet, and pleasant, and dainty meats: At this banquet, they which are the bidden guests, they must be set down, they see the meats, they taste them, they chaw them in their mouths, they digest them, they are nourished, fed, and strengthened by ⟨p. 13⟩them: they which are not bidden to this •east, may see the meats, handle them, and •ast of them, to feel how good they are: but •hey must not eat and feed of them. The first resemble the elect, which truly eat, digest, and are nourished by Christ unto everlasting life, because they have great abundance of the vital heat of Gods holy spirit in them, and do feel sensibly his grace and virtue in them, to strengthen them, and guide them. The second sort truly resemble the reprobates; which never in truth enjoy Christ, or any of his benefits appertaining to salvation: but only see them, and have in their hearts a vanishing, but no certain or sound feeling of them: so that they may be changed, and strengthened, and guided thereby. To use another similitude. The reprobates have no more feeling, and enjoying of Christ, and his benefits, than those men have of the Sun, which see only a glimmering of his light at the dawning of the day, before it riseth.