A73612:40
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.
And that the true Christian may not doubt of his estate, having found these signs1 in himself, let him consider the proofs annexed ⟨p. 12⟩to each sign: & that nothing may be wanting to his abundant consolation, I will tell him, how I found out those signs, and by what grounds I proceeded.
And that the true Christian may not doubt of his estate, hauing found these signes1 in himselfe, let him consider the proofes annexed ⟨p. 12⟩to each signe: & that nothing may be wanting to his aboundant consolation, I will tell him, how I found out those signes, and by what grounds I proceeded.
- 1The infallibility of the signs.The infallibilitie of the signes.
There are three sorts1 of places in Scripture (as I conceive) which do point out the grounds of infallible assurance in those that can attain unto them: as first, such places as expressly do affirm, that such and such things are signs: As for example 1. John 3. 14. Hereby we know, that we are ⟨p. 13⟩translated from death to life, because we love the brethren. Here the holy Ghost shows us expressly, that the love of the brethren is a sign, by which a Christian may know, that he is translated from death to life: & so the Apostle Paul gives signs to know, whether their sorrow were after God, or no.