A09466:559
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. Nay, nay, they appear very vile in mine eyes, and I do abhor them from my heart: and I would fain believe?
Christian. Naie, naie, they appeare verie vilde in mine eyes, and I doe abhorre them from my hearte: and I woulde faine beleeue?
Minister. In man we must consider his1 estate by nature, and his estate by grace. In the first he and his flesh are all one, for they are as man and wife: therefore one is necessary to the doings of the other. When the flesh striveth the man also striveth that is in subjection to the flesh, yea when the flesh perisheth, the man likewise perisheth being in this estate, with the flesh: a loving couple they are, they live and die together. But in the estate of grace, though a man have the flesh in him, yet he and his flesh are divorced a sunder. This divorcement is ⟨p. 268⟩made, when a man begins to dislike and to hate his flesh, and the evil fruits of it: this separation being made, they are no2 more one, but twain, and the one hath nothing to do with the other. In this case though the flesh beget sin and perish therefore, yet the Christian man shall not incur damnation for it, To come more near the matter; you say the flesh begets in you waverings, doubtings, and distrustinges▪ what then? it troubleth you: but fear not, remember your estate; you are divorced from the flesh, and you are new married unto Christ: if these sins be laid at you• door, account them not as your children▪ but renounce them as Bastards, say with Paul, I doubt indeed, but I hate my doubtings, and I am no cause of these, but the the flesh in me which shall perish when I shall be saved by Christ.