A73612:249
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 least gain that ⟨p. 132⟩can be imagined by this course, is, that whereas before thou hadst few evidences or none for thy estate, thou shalt now have many of all sorts: and it must needs be thy own waywardness, if assurance follow not. For these signs will ransack thee, and try thy very heart and reins, and all thy secretest desires and practises.
The least gaine that ⟨p. 132⟩can be imagined by this course, is, that whereas before thou hadst few euidēces or none for thy estate, thou shalt now haue many of all sorts: and it must needs be thy owne waiwardnes, if assurance follow not. For these signes wil ransacke thee, and try thy very heart and reines, and all thy secretest desires and practises.
Yea this benefit thou mayest reap by the signs, that they will tell thee all the days of thy life, how it is with thee, whether thou go forward or back ⟨p. 133⟩ward. For if by examination now thou gather out all thou canst find by thy self, these will not only lie by thee to help thee against any temptation at any time; but besides, if thou try thy self again, either against the next Sacrament, or the next year, thou mayest discern what ground thou hast gotten or lost. If thou prosper, thou wilt discern it, by taking in divers things in each sign, which before thou durst not acknowledge; and besides it will excellently show ⟨p. 134⟩thee what thou wantest in each grace of God, & so what thou shouldest set thy self about to get thy wants supplied. It will at all times make a true Anatomy of thy estate; which to the well-advised Christian ought to be accounted a matter of great moment.
Yea this benefit thou maist reap by the signes, that they wil tell thee all the days of thy life, how it is with thee, whether thou go forward or back