A10945:1019
Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading…Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading…
Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading and guiding to true happiness, both in this life, and in the life to come: and may be called the practise of Christianity. Profitable for all such as heartily desire the same: in the which, more particularly true Christians may learn how to lead a godly and comfortable life every day. Penned by Richard Rogers, preacher of the word of God at Wethersfield in Essex.Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading and guiding to true happines, both in this life, and in the life to come: and may be called the practise of Christianitie. Profitable for all such as heartily desire the same: in the which, more particularly true Christians may learne how to leade a godly and comfortable life euery day. Penned by Richard Rogers, preacher of the word of God at Wethersfield in Essex.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1603
Treatise 3 › Chapter 8: Of the last point, which is the benefit of this armour.
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.
But that none may be troubled at that which I have set down of the power and use of the armour: as thinking that which I have said,1 but a mere §Dfancy and untruth, seeing the enemies which we fight against, are strong and raging; and many good servants of God have been subdued of them in temptation: whereas I have not spoken much (say they) of the conflicts and combats, which they have with the allurements of sin, as though they resisted and overcame them with ease, and without any great striving: To satisfy such, I answer that the speaking of conflicts belongeth to another treatise, namely the fifth, where I handle the doctrine of the lets; here I only speak of the armour, according to the parts of the division set down;2 and yet none can understand me (if he mark) that I think sin and our lusts to be easily overcome, which I call furious and raging; or §ESatan's suggestions by objects or without, to be soon resisted, which I say, are both slyly wrought to deceive us, and to have mighty force to draw and allure us: but rather every discreet reader may gather, that I count it the most hard and difficult of all other things to subdue, and conquer them, because I show such necessity of walking armed continually against them. For what can I say less, then that we must strive manfully, and stand upon our watch, and that we cannot be crowned except we strive lawfully, that is, steadfastly: ⟨p. 276⟩yea and that for all our armour, we being unskilful, or faint and timorous §Fin using it, nor only we may be, but also are oft times foiled, as if hope of victory and of prevailing against them, were past.
But that none may bee troubled at that which I haue set downe of the power and vse of the armour: as thinking that which I haue said,1 but a meere §Dfancie and vntruth, seeing the enemies which wee fight against, are strong and raging; and many good seruants of God haue been subdued of them in temptation: whereas I haue not spoken much (say they) of the conflicts and combats, which they haue with the allurements of sinne, as though they resisted and ouercame them with ease, and without any great striuing: To satisfie such, I answere that the speaking of conflicts belongeth to another treatise, namely the fift, where I handle the doctrine of the lets; here I onely speake of the armour, according to the parts of the diuision set downe;