A View of Mans Estate, Title page – To the reader
A VIEWE OF mans eſtate, wherein the great merciemercy of God in mans free iuſtification by Chriſt, is very comfortably declared.
By Andrewe Kingeſmill.
Diuided into Chapters in ſuch ſorte as may beſt ſerue for the commoditie of the Reader.
Wherevnto is annexed a godly aduiſe giuen by the Author touching mariage.
Seene and allowed according to the order appointed.
Imprinted at London by H. Bynneman, for Lucas Hariſon and George Bishop. Anno. 1574.
To the Reader.
THe authour hereof, being a very yong Gentleman, ſo applied the ſtudie and exerciſes of the ciuill lavve in the Vniuerſitie of Oxford, that he attained as much knovvledge therin as any of his time, & profeſſed the ſame in keeping of publike exerciſes vvith great commendation. Yet did he not forget (as many do) to ſeeke the kingdome of God and the righteouſneſſe thereof: but ſo earneſtly trauelled to vnderſtand the myſteries of Chriſtiā religiō, that he thought himſelf neuer vvell ſatiſfied in any thing touching the ſame, vntil he could by word and writing giuegive accompt of the truthe, which he conceiued. VVherefore he endeuored to commit to memorie the text of holy Scripture with ſuch diligence in learning, and often repeating therof, that he could readily vvithout boke reherſe in the greke tong Paules Epiſtles to the Rom. and Galat. S. Iohns firſt canonical epiſtle, beſides other Pſalmes & chapters of the old & newe Teſtament. Alſo he exerciſed himſelf by writing of ſundry matters, that he might growe in iudgement, readineſſe and aptneſſe to teach other if at any time God ſhoulde call him therevnto. VVherof this treatiſe yeldeth ſome proof, which he writ being about. 22. yeres of age: by which thou maiſt cōceiue, what fruit the Church of God in time might hauehave reaped of his towardnes, if it had pleaſed god in this vntovvarde vvorld to prolong his days. He eſtemed not ſo much the preferment and profit, whervnto many wayes he might eaſily hauehave attained by profeſsion of lawe, as the comfortable aſſurance, and bleſſed hope of life eternall, which he might enioy by the truth of the Goſpell and the ſinceritie of Gods holy religion. Therfore to further himſelfe herein, he ſought not only the exacte knowledge of the greke & hebrewe tongs, but alſo for a time to liue in ſome one of the beſt reformed Churches, where he might, both by the doctrine and diſcipline of the goſpel, be dayly confirmed in the true worſhipping of God, and well prepared to the miniſterie of the churche. So he ſetled himſelfe at Geneua, where he remained, being wel liked of the learned and godly, the ſpace of three yeres. From vvhence he remoued to Lauſanna, where beeing too good for this corrupt vvorlde, he ended this mortall life in the monethmonth of September, Anno. 1569 vvhen he had liued about. 31. yeares: a Phoenix among Lawyers, a rare example of godlyneſſe amongſt gentlemen.
Iohn. 3.
¶God ſo loued the worlde that he hath giuen his only begotten ſonne, that whoſoeuer beleeueth in him, ſhoulde not periſhe, but hauehave euerlasting life.