A73612:83
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.
First, that I intend not1 by these signs to show how faith may be bred or begotten in us, but how faith may be proved and declared to be in us. For it is the promises of God in the Scripture that breed faith: nor can humane reason believe such great things from God for any thing that is in us, but only because we see the word of God assuring such happiness unto such as ⟨p. 42⟩lay hold upon them. So that, that which breeds faith, is the revelation of Gods promises by his word and Spirit. Yet notwithstanding the assurance of faith is much increased and confirmed by the sight of those signs of the truth of our faith, and other graces of God in us.
First, that I intend not1 by these signes to shew how faith may be bred or begotten in vs, but how faith may be proued and declared to be in vs. For it is the promises of God in the Scripture that breed faith: nor can humane reason beleeue such great things from God for any thing that is in vs, but onely because we see the word of God assuring such happinesse vnto such as ⟨p. 42⟩lay hold vpon them. So that, that which breeds faith, is the reuelation of Gods promises by his word and Spirit. Yet notwithstanding the assurance of faith is much increased and confirmed by the sight of those signes of the truth of our faith, and other graces of God in vs.
- 1The drift is to show how faith may be proved, not how it may be bred.The drift is to shew how faith may be proued, not how it may be bred.
Secondly, that I stand1