A10945:1033
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
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.
CHAP. 10. Of prayer and the parts thereof, thanksgiving and request, whereunto is added confession of sins.
CHAP. 10. Of prayer and the parts thereof, thankesgiuing and request, whereunto is added confession of sinnes.
1Having now made mention of the two first kinds of the private helps, the third followeth, containing the helps which may be used by ones self alone, or with others also: as prayer and reading. Prayer is a calling upon God according to his will: and hath these two parts: thanksgiving,§G and request; whereunto is added the confession of sins.2 Thanksgiving is that part of prayer, in which, we being comforted by some benefit, which in favour God bestoweth upon us, are drawn to love and praise him, and show forth the fruits thereof. In the which description we see three duties to be required of us, and three motives or persuasions,3 to draw us to perform them. I will first mention these latter, and then proceed to the duties. The first motive is knowledge and remembrance of some benefit received or promised us.4 Which may be seen in the thanksgivings of all Gods servants; as in David after that he had received the savoury and seasonable counsel by Abigail: and in Abraham's §Hservant, when God had blessed him in his journey to Aram. The same may be said of the leper, when he saw that he was cleansed, after he had made request for it to Christ. And where there is no knowledge and due consideration of some particular mercy, how can there be any true, and hearty thanksgiving, howsoever in words there be a protestation for fashion sake? as in them who say, we must thank God for all, when yet they consider of nothing that moves them thereto.