A10945:1256
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.
But to end my report of these Christians, for proof of that which they ⟨p. 342⟩say of the benefit of the daily direction faithfully observed: they allege §Fthat it was not wont to be thus with them, no not since they had embraced the Gospel, had hope of salvation thereby; nay, and that they were wont, as soon as they had been out of their beds, by and by to have their hearts set upon some light and foolish matter, or to have fallen into jars and brawls, or to be carried into the world, and so earnestly set upon the same one way or other, as that all goodness was forgotten: yea, and this also even since they had received some care to please God, and that prayer a spiritual duty of all other most usually intended to be frequented of them, yet by the least occasion was put by and omitted. And when the morning (which being the first part of the day, should be consecrated to the service of God, if in any convenience §Git may be) hath been thus profanely spent and taken up, the whole day after (we may be sure) hath been suitable for the most part and answerable. So that they have not felt that sweetness in their lives, which by teaching they had heard to be granted of God to his people to enjoy: but contrarily, they felt much wearisome passing of the day, and clogging of their hearts with their corruptions; which since they took this order, hath been far otherwise with them, yea even in the new entrance into it (which we all know to be then weakest) much trifling out the time in company by talking needlessly of other men, or of their dealings, was wont to be common with them; and in solitariness a spending of their thoughts and desires after the §Hlike manner vainly, until they were able more wisely to discern how to give every duty in the day his time, and how to occupy both the one and the other throughout the day. But they have with hearty thanks to God protested, that after they had attained to this, they saw far more clearly into the practise of Christianity, then ever before they did, and found the Lords yoke far more easy to them, and themselves settled with more sound peace in the leading of their lives.
But to end my report of these Christians, for proofe of that which they ⟨p. 342⟩