A09473:88
Two treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat…Tvvo treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat…
Two treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat of the flesh and spirit.Tvvo treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat of the flesh and spirit.
Cambridge: printed by John Legate printer to the University of Cambridge. 1593., 1593Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legate printer to the Vniversitie of Cambridge. 1593., 1593
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.
The misery before man, is a dangerous snare which the devil lays for the destruction of the soul. I say it is dangerous: because he1 is in setting of it twenty or forty years, before ⟨p. 42⟩he strikes; when as (God knows) men do little think of it. It is made of three cords: with the first, he brings men into his snare: and that he doeth by covering the misery and the poison of sin; and by painting out to the eye of the mind, the deceitful profits & pleasures thereof. With the second, he hopples and ensnares them: for after that a man is drawn into this or that sin, the devil hath so sugared it over with fine delights, that he can not but needs must live and lye in it. By the third, he draws the snare and endeavours with all his might to break the neck of the soul. For when he seeth a fit opportunity, especially in grievous calamities; and in the hour of death, he takes away the visor of sin, and she weth the face of it in the true form, as ugly as him self: then withal he beginneth (as we say) to show his horns: then he rageth in terrifying & accusing, that the soul of man may be swallowed up of the gulf of final despair.
The misery before man, is a daungerous snare which the devill layes for the destruction of the soule. I say it is dangerous: because he1 is in setting of it twentie or fortie yeres, before ⟨p. 42⟩he strikes; when as (God knowes) men do little thinke of it. It is made of three cords: with the first, he brings men into his snare: and that he doeth by covering the miserie and the poyson of sinne; and by painting out to the eie of the minde, the deceitfull profits & pleasures thereof. With the second, he hopples and insnares them: for after that a man is drawen into this or that sinne, the devill hath so sugered it over with fine delightes, that he can not but needes must live and lye in it. By the third, he drawes the snare and indevours with all his might to breake the necke of the soule. For when he seeth a fitte opportunitie, especially in grievous calamities; and in the houre of death, he takes away the vizar of sinne, and she weth the face of it in the true fourme, as ouglie as him selfe: then withall he beginneth (as we say) to shewe his hornes: then he rageth in terrifying & accusing, that the soule of man may be swallowed up of the gulfe of finall despaire.