A10945:129
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.
Thus setting his heart upon it, as that which he seeth would make him more happy, then all the world; though for a time he hath not been able to attain unto the assurance of it (the devil holding him back by many lets and subtleties, abusing his error, weakness, and simplicity thereto) yet the Lord suffereth him not to give over, till he hath waded thorough and overcome all hinderances. And if this be too hard to do by himself,1 he seeketh the help of others, wheresoever they may be come by, men of deeper insight, and greater judgement and experience in and about the will and purpose of God, concerning salvation, by whose loving travail, counsel and labour he groweth more expert and resolute, and so settleth his heart in believing, §Bas he seeth he hath good cause, and strong encouragement, to his full quiet and contentation: The Lord himself speaking thus: If any thirst, 2let him come to me, and I will give him the water of life to drink. So that as Jacobs hart failed when he believed not his sons report that Joseph was alive, and the chief governor under Pharaoh; yet when they told him the words of Joseph, and showed him the Chariots which he had sent to carry him,3 the spirit of Jacob revived, and he said, I have enough, &c. Joseph my son is yet alive. So though the goodness of the message shall be so far beyond the expectation of him to whom it is brought (as fearing the clean contrary) yet when he shall weigh and consider advisedly the truth of the matter, and certainty of §Cthe promises, and therein behold the depth of love which is in God, and that to the broken hearted, though unworthy, it quickeneth the soul, and refresheth it above all that can be expressed: And so he beholding his estate without these promises, and what need he hath of them, and who it is that offereth them, even he who cannot be gainsaid, that is, the Almighty, he embraceth them, and by little and little, as he gathereth more strength by the infallibleness of them; so he believeth them, and taketh exceeding comfort by them, giveth God thanks, and (as he hath good cause) he cannot satisfy himself therewith, nor (as he thinketh) have enough of them.