A10945:1258
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 know we, that this kind of serving God, both may be, and is, and hath been (God be thanked) used of many of Gods servants, though I will not say in a like manner, and ought to be of the rest, as every one shall be able to see into it. And therefore I purpose to thrust no fancy nor conceit upon any, but that which all well advised persons must justify, to be the commandment of God: and which bewrayeth too plainly, that many professors of the Gospel have not so much sought for the sound practise of a §Kgodly life, by reading the stories of holy men in the word of God, as to report generally that they have been holy; neither have reaped that benefit by the Scripture, in enjoying a sweet life above other men, as the Lord in much mercy hath afforded them.
But know wee, that this kind of seruing God, both may bee, and is, and hath bene (God be thanked) vsed of many of Gods seruants, though I will not say in a like maner, and ought to be of the rest, as euery one shall be able to see into it. And therefore I purpose to thrust no fancie nor conceit vpon any, but that which all well aduised persons must iustifie, to be the commaundement of God: and which bewrayeth too plainely, that many professors of the Gospell haue not so much sought for the sound practise of a §Kgodly life, by reading the stories of holy men in the word of God, as to report generally that they haue bene holy; neither haue reaped that benefit by the Scripture, in enioying a sweet life aboue other men, as the Lord in much mercie hath affoorded them.
For though the sect of the Family of love, the Church of Rome, and sundry other lying spirits do fancy a course which the Scripture knoweth not, ⟨p. 343⟩§Aand some of them also fantastically have for every day in the week, devised an order to be followed, as the reading of certain tasks, nothing less then proper to direct their lives: yet in this, which I here propound, namely, that we should be daily directed in our whole course, I have followed no fancy and dream of man; but have in all good conscience spoken from God, and drawn it from the Scripture both for the learned and simple, high and low, one and other, and is never in vain to the right user of it: although I deny not, but that a skilfuller handler of it, might have set it down far more exquisitely.