A09466:78
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.
XXX
When as a reprobate professeth thus much of the Gospel, though in deed he be a Goat; yet he is taken for one of Gods sheep: he is kept in the same pastures, and is folded in the same fold with them. eHe is counted a Christian of the children of God, & so he taketh himself to be; no doubt because through the dullness of his heart, he cannot try and examine himself, and therefore truly cannot discern of his estate; whether he be in Christ or not: and it may be thought, that Satan is ready with some false persuasion to deceive him. For this is his property, that upon whom God threateneth death, there Satan is bold to pronounce life and salvation: as on the contrary, to those, to whom God pronounceth love and mercy, to those (I say) he threateneth ⟨p. 20⟩displeasure and damnation, such malice hath he against Gods children.
When as a reprobate professeth thus much of the Gospel, though in deede he be a Goate; yet hee is taken for one of Gods sheepe: hee is kept in the same pastures, and is foulded in the same fould with them. eHe is counted a Christian of the children of God, & so he taketh himself to be; no doubt because through the dulnes of his heart, he cannot trie and examine himself, and therfore truely cannot discerne of his estate; whether hee be in Christ or not: and it may be thought, that Satan is readie with some false perswasion to deceiue him. For this is his property, that vpon whom God threatneth death, there Satan is bolde to pronounce life and saluation: as on the contrarie, to those, to whom God pronounceth loue and mercie, to those (I say) he threateneth ⟨p. 20⟩