A Song Gathered out of the Psalms, Containing the Sobs and Sighs of All Repentant Sinners

Sir, I pray you consider with me a special point of God's word, carefully to be weighed: it is this, Many professors of Christ, in the day of grace, persuade themselves that they are in the estate of grace; and so the true church esteems of them too: yet when the day of grace is past, they contrariwise shall find themselves to be in the estate of damnation remediless. A doleful case, yet a most resolute [reconstructed: truth], and the reason is plain. Men that live in the church are greatly annoyed with a fearful security and deadness of heart; by which it comes to pass that they think it enough to make a common protestation of the faith, not once in all their lifetimes, examining themselves whether they be in the estate of grace before the eternal God or not. And indeed it is a grace peculiar to the elect man to try himself whether he be in the estate of grace or not.

The further opening of the [reconstructed: truth] of this point, as also the danger of it, I have undertaken in this treatise; which I am willing to bestow on you, both for the profession of the faith, which you make, as also for that Christian friendship, you have showed to me. Accept of it I pray you and use it for your edification. Thus I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, that is able to build you up further and give you an inheritance among them which are sanctified.

From Cambridge this 24th of November, 1589. Your Worship's to command, William Perkins.