A10945:1020
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.
All this I say: and yet in the weakest estate, we are not forsaken of God, though in some distress for a time: 1nor swallowed up, though we be in sorrow: nor in despair, when we be in some discomfort, but when we are at the lowest ebb, that in some temptation we yield and be overcome of it: yet even in that we are not so miserable as others who strive not at all, but are for a while left to our selves to see our weakness, that afterwards we may gather more strength, and (as it were) fetch our breath, that we may take better hold, and resist more valiantly; especially when through any of our own defaults,§G we were overcome: And yet whensoever it is so with us, who can deny, but that it so came to pass, because we were no better armed? and for that we were either unskilful and unexpert, or slothful and slack in using it? So that, I say still, as I said before, that whatsoever our temptations and assaults be, by the help of our armour, as Christ our captain hath taught us to wear and keep it on, we prevail and thereby rejoice; even as contrarily, we must needs sorrow, whiles we be naked and unarmed in the battle. But we may for just cause be upholden, and war cheerfully against all kinds of enemies,2 when (as Joshua) we have promise of the victory, the weapons of our warfare being mighty.
All this I say: and yet in the weakest estate, we are not forsaken of God, though in some distresse for a time: 1nor swallowed vp, though we be in sorrow: nor in despaire, when we be in some discomfort, but when we are at the lowest ebbe, that in some temptation we yeeld and be ouercome of it: yet euen in that we are not so miserable as others who striue not at all, but are for a while left to our selues to see our weakenes, that afterwards wee may gather more strength, and (as it were) fetch our breath, that we may take better hold, and resist more valiantly; especially when through any of our owne defaults,§G we were ouercome: And yet whensoeuer it is so with vs, who can deny, but that it so came to passe, because we were no better armed? and for that we were either vnskilfull and vnexpert, or slouthfull and slacke in vsing it? So that, I say still, as I said before, that whatsoeuer our temptations and assaults be, by the helpe of our armour, as Christ our captaine hath taught vs to weare and keepe it on, we preuaile and thereby reioyce; euen as contrarily, we must needes sorrow, whiles we bee naked and vnarmed in the battaile. But we may for iust cause be vpholden, and warre cheerefully against all kinds of enemies,