A73612:214
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.
1. Because what he doth, ariseth out of the ⟨p. 107⟩love he heares to God and goodness; and therefore he doth good heartily, and not by constraint, or with repining, or delay: yea he is so stirred up with the sense of Gods goodness to him, that he is much humbled when he hath done his best, that he cannot bring more glory to God, Deut. 30. 20. Josh. 22. 5. Mat. 4. 19. Rom. 6. 27.
1. Because what he doth, ariseth out of the ⟨p. 107⟩loue he heares to God and goodnesse; and therefore he doth good heartily, and not by constraint, or with repining, or delay: yea he is so stirred vp with the sence of Gods goodnesse to him, that he is much hūbled when he hath done his best, that hee cannot bring more glorie to God, Deut. 30. 20. Iosh. 22. 5. Mat. 4. 19. Rom. 6. 27.
2. In doing good he hath respect unto all Gods commandments: there is no part of an holy life but he desires to practise it; and therefore he will ⟨p. 108⟩obey Gods will in some cases when it is against his profit, credit, ease, or the liking of carnal friends, preferring Gods commandments above all things, yea life it self,