A73612:99
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.
Ninthly, he hath a spirit 1of discerning. There is a great deal of light comes into the heart with faith. A man cannot believe, and be ignorant still. The Christian that is endued with faith from above, is endued with wisdom from above: so as he can conceive of the things of God that concern salvation, which the natural ⟨p. 56⟩man perceiveth not. Though he may want still in many knowledges, yet he hath skill in some measure to learn how to be saved. The doctrine of salvation he can now understand, which is taught in the ministry of the word; and he now can make some good use of reading the Scriptures, that before discerned little or nothing in them. The veil that lieth upon the hearts of all flesh; is now taken from his eyes; yea the very entrance into Gods word giveth light ⟨p. 57⟩to the simplest believer. He that was stupid and unteachable before, doth now hear as the learned, with a holy kind of insight and judgement: 2. Tim. 3. 15. Psal. 119. 130. Prou. 1. 4. 8. & 5. 9.
Ninthly, he hath a spirit 1of discerning. There is a great deale of light comes into the heart with faith. A man cannot beleeue, and be ignorant still. The Christian that is endued with faith from aboue, is endued with wisedome from aboue: so as he can conceiue of the things of God that concerne saluation, which the naturall ⟨p. 56⟩man perceiueth not. Though he may want still in many knowledges, yet he hath skill in some measure to learne how to be saued. The doctrine of saluation he can now vnderstand, which is taught in the ministerie of the word; and he now can make some good vse of reading the Scriptures, that before discerned litle or nothing in them. The veile that lieth vpon the hearts of all flesh; is now taken from his eyes; yea the very entrance into Gods word giueth light