A73612:112
The spiritual touchstoneThe spiritval tovchstone
The spiritual touchstone: or, The signs of a godly man drawn in so plain and profitable a manner, as all sorts of Christians may try themselves thereby. Together with directions, how the weak Christian, by the use of these signs may establish his assurance. By. N. Bifield preacher of Gods word at Isteworth in Middlesex.The spiritval tovchstone: or, The signes of a godly man drawne in so plaine and profitable a maner, as all sorts of Christians may trie themselues thereby. Together with directions, how the weake Christian, by the vse of these signes may establish his assurance. By. N. Bifield preacher of Gods word at Isteworth in Middlesex.
London: printed by R. Field for Jonah Man, 1619London: printed by R. Field for Ionas Man, 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.
The first is his holy 1thirst, which is a heavenly kind of appetite, by which he is carried to the desire of things above nature; such as are the merits and righteousness of Christ: the favour of God: the presence of God: the full deliverance from all sin: the removing of spiritual ⟨p. 68⟩judgements: the salvation of other men, and the like; and this thirst is a sign the more infallible.
The first is his holy 1thirst, which is a heauenly kind of appetite, by which he is carried to the desire of things aboue nature; such as are the merits and righteousnesse of Christ: the fauour of God: the presence of God: the full deliuerance from all sinne: the remouing of spirituall ⟨p. 68⟩iudgements: the saluation of other men, and the like; and this thirst is a signe the more infallible.
- 1The holy thirst that is in the godly Christian tried by four signs.The holy thirst that is in the godly Christian tried by foure signes.
1. Because it is constant and indelible in this life. There is no part of his life, but it continueth either in the sense of his affection, or in the judgement of his understanding, so as he accounts spiritual things to be the best things: and though at some times his affections may be the less moved after them, yet his appetite is daily renewed, as it is in ⟨p. 69⟩the hunger, or thirst, that is bodily.