A09466:606
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. I have now opened unto you the chief things that trouble me: and your comfortable answers have much refreshed my troubled mind. The God of all mercy, and consolation requite you accordingly.
Christian. I haue nowe opened vnto you the chiefe things that trouble me: and your comfortable answers haue much refreshed my troubled minde. The God of all mercie, and consolation requite you accordinglie.
Minister. I have spoken that which God out of his holy word hath opened unto me if you find any help thereby, give God the praise therefore, and carry this with you for ever, that by many afflictions both in the body 1and the mind you must enter into the kingdom of heaven. Raw flesh is noisome to the stomach, and is no good nourishment before it be sodden: and unmortified men and women2 be no creatures fit for God: and therefore they are to be soaked and boiled in afflictions, that the fulsomeness & rankness of their corruption may be delayed, and they may have in them some relish acceptable unto God. And to conclude, for the avoiding of all these temptations, use this sweet prayer following which that godly saint, Master Bradford made. Oh Lord God and deer Father, what shall I say that feel all things to be (in manner) with me as in the wicked? Blind is my mind, crooked is my will, and perverse concupiscence is in me, as a spring of stinking puddle. O how faint is faith in me? how little is my love to thee or thy people? how great is my self▪ love? how hard is my heart? by reason whereof I am moved to doubt of thy goodness towards me, whether ⟨p. 384⟩thou art my merciful father, and whether I be thy child or no, indeed worthily might I doubt, if that the having of these were the cause, and not the fruit rather of thy children. The cause why thou art my father, is thy merciful goodness grace and truth in Christ Jesus, which cannot but remain for ever. In respect whereof thou hast borne me this good will to bring me into thy Church by Baptism and to accept me into the number of thy children, that I might be holy, faithful, obedient and innocent: and to call me divers times by the ministry of thy word into thy kingdom: besides the innumerable other benefits always hitherto poured upon me. All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine own mercy barest to me in Christ before the world was made. The which thing as thou requirest straitly that I should believe without doubting, so wouldest thou that I in all my deeds should come unto thee as to a father, and make my moan without mistrust of being heard in thy good time, as most shall make to my comfort.