A73612:242
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.
Hitherto of the signs of the godly man. Now follows the course that the weak Christian should take by the use of the former signs of trial, to establish his heart in the assurance of Gods favour, and his own eternal salvation.
HItherto of the signes of the godly man. Now followes the course that the weake Christian should take by the vse of the former signes of triall, to establish his heart in the assurance of Gods fauour, and his owne eternall saluation.
My advice is therefore, that the weak Christian that finds want of establishment and clear assurance, ⟨p. 123⟩should take the former signs of trial, & go apart, and set himself in Gods presence, emptying his heart of worldly distractions, and seriously consider of every rule of trial apart; and gather out into some little paper-book so much as in every sign he can clearly find to be in himself, and that which he durst through Gods mercy resolutely avouch to be wrought in him by the grace of God. And this I would have him to do with deliberation, trying himself ⟨p. 124⟩by one or two of the chief heads at most in a day, spending no more time about it then he may well allow, without weariness or dullness.
My aduice is therfore, that the weak Christian that finds want of establishment and cleare assurance, ⟨p. 123⟩should take the former signes of trial, & go apart, and set himself in Gods presence, emptying his heart of worldly distractions, and seriously consider of euery rule of triall apart; and gather out into some litle paper-book so much as in euery signe he can clearly find to be in himself, and that which he durst through Gods mercy resolutly auouch to be wrought in him by the grace of God. And this I would haue him to do with deliberation, trying himselfe ⟨p. 124⟩