The Spiritual Touchstone, Title page – Dedication
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 Iſleworth in Middleſex.
2. COR. 13. 5.
Examine your ſelues whether ye be in the faith: proue your owne ſelues. Know ye not your owne ſelues, how that Ieſus Chriſt is in you, except ye be reprobates?
LONDON, Printed by R. FIELD, for IONAS MAN. 1619.
TO THE MVCH HONOred Ladie, the Ladie RVTH SCYDAMORE increaſe of peace and ioy in beleeuing.
HOw great the benefite of aſſurance of Gods fauour and of our owne ſaluation is, thoſe onelyonly know that are either ſcourged with the conflicts and terrors of their own doubtings, or that are ſolaced and eſtabliſhed with the ſweet dewes of refreſhing that ariſe from a rooted and well grounded faith. If men ſtudie aſſurances ſo much for their outward poſſeſſions in this world, how much more earneſt and diligent ſhould men be to aſſure Gods louelove and the inheritance of the glorie to come? There is not a clearer ſigne of a profane heart, then to account theſe cares needleſſe: nor do I know a iuſter exception against any religion, then that it ſhould teach, that when a man hath done what he can to obſerue the directions of that religion, yet he cannot be ſure he ſhall go to heauen.
But ſince I know that all that are poſſeſſed of the grace of Ieſus Chriſt, do account aſſurance great riches, I therefore conceiue hope that my paines about this ſubiect will not be altogether vnacceptable: and the rather becauſe in this preſent treatiſe I hauehave endeuoured to expreſſe the ſignes of trial in a much more eaſie way then before; and beſides hauehave added directions, that ſhew how a weake Chriſtian may eſtabliſh himſelfe in his aſſurance.
I make bold to dedicate my new Eſſay herein vntounto your Ladiſhip. You hauehave heard the ſubſtance hereof preached, and receiued it with much gladneſſe; and in the priuate vſe of theſe ſignes, you hauehave bene pleaſed to profeſſe (to the glorie of God) that you hauehave found much contentment and eſtabliſhment of your owne aſſurance. Your eminencie in the ſincere profeſſion and practiſe of true religion, and the ſhining of the graces here intreated of, long acknowledged by many witneſſes, hauehave made you worthy to be publikly obſerued and praiſed in the Churches of Chriſt: and your great reſpect and fauour ſhewed to me, hath made this way of teſtifying my thankfulneſſe, but as a ſmall pledge and aſſurance of my deſire to do your Ladiſhip any ſeruice in the things of Ieſus Chriſt. Thus beſeeching God to enlarge the comforts of his Spirit in your heart, and to proſper you in all things that concerne the bleſſed hope of the appearing of Ieſus Chriſt our mightie God and Sauiour, I end, and rest
Your Ladiſhips to be commanded, N. Bifield.