A15859:231
Speculum Christianum
Speculum Christianum or, A Christian survey for the conscience Containing, three tractates of that eminent, grave, and learned divine, master Hierome Zanchius. 1. Of the end of the world. 2. Of the perseverance of the saints. 3. A summary abridgement of his protections. Englished for the good of Gods church, and for a warning to wicked and impenitent men. By H.N.Speculum Christianum or, A Christian suruey for the conscience Containing, three tractates of that eminent, graue, and learned diuine, maister Hierome Zanchius. 1. Of the end of the world. 2. Of the perseuerance of the saints. 3. A summarie abridgement of his protections. Englished for the good of Gods church, and for a warning to wicked and impenitent men. By H.N.
London: printed by George Eld, 1614
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
John in his Canonical Epistle §3doth specially labour in this, That it cannot be, that such as are truly sanctified and borne of GOD, should commit such sins, which are called sometimes sins wasting the conscience; sometimes, sins unto death; sometimes reigning: and therefore that they are liars, who boast themselves to be the sons of God, & to acknowledge God, when yet in the mean while they sin in security, hate their brethren, and do not endeavour to observe Gods Law: and therefore that they only are Saints, and borne of God, who study to avoid sin, and keep the Law of God. cap. 2. He that saith that ⟨p. 218⟩he knoweth God, and doth not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth• is not in him. And Gods precepts a•• specially observed, when they are laid up firmly in the heart, and beloved. So saith David; In the volum• 1of thy book is it written of me, that I should do thy will, O Lord: I am c•• tent to do it, yea thy law is in the middest of my heart▪scilicet. I have it the•e written and engraven. If the Saints have the Law so fixed in their harts, how then therefore should sin reign in their hearts? cap. 3. Every one wh• abideth in him sinneth not, and every one that sinneth haeth not seen him, not known him: again, he that doth sin is of the devil, because the devil sinneth from the beginning. Hereof it is apparent, of what sort of sins the Apostle speaketh, when he saith, He that doth sin is not borne of God, but is of the devil, that is, of such as are like to the sin of Satan the Father of all the wicked. And of what quality is the sin of the devil? sin committed of purposed malice: sin ⟨p. 219⟩reigning, and perpetual. For the Devil sinned from the beginning, that2 is to say, from the beginning unto this present hour he doth continually sin, and adhere unto sin. Wherefore it cannot be, that such as are truly borne of God, should commit sins of such quality, that is devilish, and persist in them: therefore he addeth, saying; All that are borne of God, sin not, because the seed abideth in him, neither can he sin, because he is borne of God.