A09466:597
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.
Minister. Therefore mark this further. As long as the children of God are in this life, *God regardeth more the affection to obey, then the obedience it self: And they shall be unto me saith the Lord of hosts, in that day that I shall do this, for a flock, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serveth him. The Father when he shall set his child to do any business, though he do it never so untowardly, yet if he show his good will to do the best he can, his father will be pleased: and so it is with the Lord toward his children you look to have some perfection in your self; but in this life you shall receive no *more but the first fruits of the spirit, which are but as a handful of corn, in respect of the whole corn field; and as for the accomplishment of your redemption, you must wait for it till after this life: you would be kissed with the kisses of Christs mouth, but here in this world you must be content, if you may with Mary Magdalen kiss his feet. For the perfection of a Christian mans life, stands in the feeling and ⟨p. 280⟩confessing of his imperfections. And as3 Ambrose saith, obedience due to God, stands more ain the affection then in the work.
Minister. Therefore marke this further. As long as the children of God are in this life, *God regardeth more the affection to obeie, then the obedience it selfe: And they shall bee vnto mee saith the Lorde of hostes, in that daie that I shall doe this, for a flocke, and I wil spare them, as a man spares his owne sonne that serueth him. The Father when he shall set his childe to doe anie busines, though he doe it neuer so vntowardlie, yet if he shew his good will to doe the best hee can, his father will bee pleased: and so it is with the Lorde towarde his children you looke to haue some perfection in your selfe; but in this life you shall receiue no *