A73600:39
The beginning of the doctrine of Christ. Or A catalogue of sins showing how…The beginning of the doctrine of Christ. Or A catalogue of sinnes shewing how…
The beginning of the doctrine of Christ. Or A catalogue of sins showing how a Christian may find out the evils, he must take notice of in his repentance. With rules, that show a course, how any Christian may be delivered from the guilt and power of all his sins. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word, at Isleworth in Middlesex.The beginning of the doctrine of Christ. Or A catalogue of sinnes shewing how a Christian may finde out the euils, hee must take notice of in his repentance. With rules, that shew a course, how any Christian may be deliuered from the guilt and power of all his sinnes. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word, at Isleworth in Middlesex.
London: printed for R. Rounthwaite, 1619
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.
I answer; that in any of these Treatises the way is not made harder then is required, or in the doctrine of the Church manifested, but rather things are made more plain, and so more easy. Besides, thou knowest already, that the ⟨p. 14⟩way to heaven is a narrow, and straight way, and few find it. But especially thou shouldst weigh with thy self the great encouragements and motives to abide the hardship & difficulties of any godly and necessary course. Though the way to Canaan (with the Israelites) were through a solitary wilderness, yet it should comfort thee, that it is but a way of three days, as they said, being about to get out of Egypt. God will keep thee at work but a little time, and therefore thou shouldest not think much of thy pains. And ⟨p. 15⟩further think of it, that this is a course of wonderful comfort and safety: when a Christian follows the evident directions of Gods word in these most weighty things, he walks safely: He is in the good way, the way of life, the way of peace; he is sure to see the salvation of God: to follow these directions soundly, is to keep our souls: all Gods ways will be mercy and truth to us: God will cause us to hear his loving kindness in the morning; our way will be full of refreshing: Gods ways are ways of pleasure, and if any man set himself ⟨p. 16⟩exactly to take notice of Gods will in these things, and will be at the pains to store his heart distinctly in such solid Truths: It is certain, the Lord will recompense his way upon him, God will not cast away the exact man, till he fill his mouth with laughter, as it is said, Job. 8. 19. 20. Sure it is, that in the study of these things lieth the way of eternity, and though thou think the way to be hard and narrow, yet this may somewhat ease thee; it is a plain way. For the simple may profit by it, as is avouched ⟨p. 17⟩to be true of all the courses, which God by his Word so expressly required, Psalm 119.