A73612:86
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 question then is, how a Christian may try his persuasion of Gods mercy, and his ⟨p. 45⟩interest in Christs merits, whether it be right or no.
The question then is, how a Christian may trie his perswasion of Gods mercie, and his ⟨p. 45⟩interest in Christs merits, whether it be right or no.
First, his faith or persuasion1 was wrought by the hearing of the word preached: & therefore thou must first ask thy self, how thou comest by thy persuasion. For if thou say, thou wast always so persuaded, or didst attain it by mere natural means ⟨p. 46⟩or helps, thou art deceived. For, faith is first wrought by the holy Ghost in the preaching of the Gospel, as it is most clear by the words of the Apostle, How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?