A10945:1088
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.
It might worthily grieve him who knoweth the gain, beauty, sweetness, and honour of it, to see so many hunt after all these, where they cannot be come by; and if they be attained, yet as a flower they soon fade and are §Igone: and to bestow no labour for them, where they may all be had, and constantly kept and enjoyed. And whereas it is granted, that one day in the godly life is better then a thousand elsewhere: 1yet what courtesy is amongst men who should begin to make proof of it? and what holding back is there, least they should do too much? And therefore that this Christian life may be brought into some more estimation and reckoning with men, then for a long time it hath been with the most, I have taken some little pain to unfold and lay out this happy estate, and to teach a more sound use of it, then the most that profess, have acquaintance with, by showing how it is to be made an every days work, and to be brought into daily practise, that so the §Kwhole being seen in her parts, every thing in it may be better perceived and discerned, with the manifold privileges and benefits thereof; as a great house,2 when the several rooms of it, are with their furniture particularly viewed, and not confusedly beheld.
It might worthily grieue him who knoweth the gaine, beautie, sweetnes, and honour of it, to see so many hunt after all these, where they cannot bee come by; and if they bee attained, yet as a flower they soone fade and are §Igone: and to bestow no labour for them, where they may all be had, and constantly kept and enioyed. And whereas it is graunted, that one day in the godly life is better then a thousand elsewhere: 1yet what curtesie is amongst men who should begin to make proofe of it? and what holding backe is there, least they should doe too much? And therefore that this Christian life may be brought into some more estimation and reckoning with men, then for a long time it hath been with the most, I haue taken some little paine to vnfold and lay out this happie estate, and to teach a more sound vse of it, then the most that professe, haue acquaintance with, by shewing how it is to bee made an euery daies worke, and to be brought into daily practise, that so the