A treatise tending vnto a declaration whether a man be in the estate of damnation or in the estate of grace and if he be in the first, how he may in time come out of it: if in the second, how he maie discerne it, and perseuere in the same to the end. The points that are handled are set downe in the page following.

XXXI

The elect beeing thus assured of their a∣doptiō* 1.1 & iustificatiō, are indued with hope: a 1.2 by which they looke patiently for the ac∣complishing of all good things which God hath begunne in them. And therefore they can vndergoe all Crosses and afflictions with a quiet and contented minde: be∣cause they knowe that the time will come when they shall haue full redemption from all euils. This was b 1.3 the pat••ence of Paules hope, whē he said, that nothing in the world could seuer him from the loue of God in Christ. And like to this was the patience of Poli∣carpe, & of Ignatius, who when he was cō∣demned and iudged to be throwne to wilde beasts, and now heard the Lyons roring, he boldly & yet patiently said; I am the wheate of Christ, I shalbe ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be founde good breade. Also the same was the patience of the blessed Martir saint Laurence, who like a meeke Lambe suffred himself to be tormented on a fiery gridiron: and when he had beene pressed downe with fire pikes for a great space, in the mightie spirit of God, spake vnto the Emperor that

caused him thus to be tormēted, on this wise

This side is now rosted enough, turne vp O tyrant great. Assay, whether rosted or rawe thou thinkest the better meat.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hope.
• a 1.2

  Rom. 8. 25. & 5. 5. 2. Cor. 5. 6. 7. Hebr. 11. 1.
• b 1.3

  1. Thess. 1 3. Rom. 8. 38.