A68954:208
A three-fold treatise
A three-fold treatise containing the saints sure and perpetual guide. Self-enriching examination. Soul-fating fasting. Or, meditations, concerning the word, the sacrament of the Lords Supper, and fasting. By the labours of that late Reverend, and learned divine, Master Robert Bolton ...A three-fold treatise containing the saints sure and perpetuall guide. Selfe-enriching examination. Soule-fatting fasting. Or, meditations, concerning the word, the sacrament of the Lords Supper, and fasting. By the labours of that late Reverend, and learned divine, Master Robert Bolton ...
London: printed by E. Purslow for Ralph Harford, 1634London: printed by E. Purslow for Raphe Harford, 1634
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE SAINTS SURE AND PERPETUAL GUIDE.THE SAINTS SVRE AND PERPETVALL GVIDE.
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.
If he can stay but one sin unsold, he knows the man continues still, by the course of divine Law,1 a bondslave of Hell. By one little hole a ship will sink into the bottom of the Sea. The stab of a Pen-knife to the heart, will as well speed a man, as all the Daggers that killed Caesar in the Senate-house. The soul will be strangled with one Cord of vanity, as well as with all the Cart-ropes of iniquity: only, the more sins, the more plagues, and fiercer flame in Hell: but he that lives and dies impenitent in one, it will be his destruction. One dram of poison will dispatch a man; and one reigning sin will bring him to endless woe and misery. Let us take heed therefore, when we go about reformation of our selves, lest we be surprised & overtaken by this malicious craft of Satan. Let us resolve upon a through-reformation; which is only and ever undertaken, with a purpose not to hold on in the willing practice of any one known iniquity, or sinful course. Which, when we shall carefully & earnestly go about, Satan will be sure to set upon us, as Pharaoh did upon Moses and Aaron: ⟨p. 93⟩When the Lord had commanded them to go three days journey in the Desert,2 to do service and sacrifice unto him, that by all means he might hinder them in this holy business.
If he can stay but one sinne unsold, he knowes the man continues still, by the course of divine Law,1 a bondslave of Hell. By one little hole a ship will sinke into the bottome of the Sea. The stab of a Pen-knife to the heart, will as well speed a man, as all the Daggers that killed Caesar in the Senat-house. The soule will be strangled with one Cord of vanitie, as well as with all the Cart-ropes of iniquitie: only, the more sins, the more plagues, and fiercer flame in Hell: but he that lives and dies impenitent in one, it will be his destruction. One dramme of poyson will dispatch a man; and one reigning sinne will bring him to endlesse woe and miserie. Let us take heed therefore, when we goe about reformation of our selves, lest we be surprised & overtaken by this malicious craft of Sathan. Let us resolve upon a through-reformation; which is only and ever undertaken, with a purpose not to hold on in the willing practice of any one knowne iniquitie, or sinfull course. Which, when we shall carefully & earnestly go about, Sathan will be sure to set upon us, as Pharoah did upon Moses and Aaron: