A10945:1022
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.
These two objections indeed, the wit of man after the hearing of this present doctrine of the armour, will be ready to put forth, and he that is past both these doubts, and troubled with neither of them, I think (nay, I know) that he hath overcome much, and hath well profited. For the satisfying of those who are weaker, I will answer a little to both. To the foremost, why should any think,1 that they may be good Christians without this, seeing they must needs grant, that if they walk nakedly, they cannot walk safely (every man being a blind guide to himself:) I deny not, but that a §KChristian fearing God, and believing in him, may be ignorant of this armour; but then let not such say, that they may serve God well enough without, it, which is here objected: for that is far off from the most zealous, and he who thinketh himself forwardest, yea and hath a large heart filled with holy desires, is far off from it. For what substance of godliness is there in such a life, that it should be a serving of God aright, and as it is behoofull? ⟨p. 277⟩§Aseeing it shall be found both idle and unprofitable, or a wandering course, and that which is in no wise to be rested in without the help of the armour: from which they have their strength to live well, whosoever hath any measure of grace to live godly, as by considering the force and use of the armour may be easily seen. And therefore it is a speech at the least, full of ignorance, to say, we may serve God as it is meet, although we have no acquaintance with the armour.
These two obiections indeed, the wit of man after the hearing of this present doctrine of the armour, will be readie to put forth, and he that is past both these doubts, and troubled with neither of them, I thinke (nay, I know) that he hath ouercome much, and hath well profited. For the satisfying of those who are weaker, I will answere a little to both. To the formost, why should any thinke,1 that they may be good Christians without this, seeing they must needes graunt, that if they walke nakedly, they cannot walke safely (euery man being a blinde guide to himselfe:) I deny not, but that a