A10945:131
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.
Which thing I do the rather stand upon to prove, seeing it is rather tried and discerned by these, then known by it self without other holy affections going with it, and for that many of tender age in Christ, and yonglings, cannot be certain and throughly persuaded that they have faith, and consequently, that their sins are forgiven them, and yet by infallible signs and tokens we know that it is so. I speak of the least measure of it: for of the stronger faith, the question is easier. And the weakest measure of faith I call that, when an humbled soul longeth,1 and almost fainteth for Gods mercy in Christ; and although he be not assured of it, yet he seeth that it cannot be denied:§H and therefore waiteth for it, and is stayed from despair. I say he seeth that it cannot be denied, but that God doth grant pardon to him against his sin: because he seeth himself to have obtained many graces and works of the holy Ghost, which cannot be in a reprobate, as was said before; and thereby he is holden from despair and dreadful fear. And yet through weakness and want of experience cannot call God father, though he cannot suffer the contrary thought to have any place in himself: and therefore the thing that he most laboureth to be satisfied in and resolved of, is, that he may have some clearer light, and lay better hold of it, that Christ hath redeemed him indeed; yet is he as the child first taught to go alone, who at the first is weak §Iin the joints, but in time can run about: so shall it be with the soul which thus longeth and lamenteth after God.
Which thing I doe the rather stand vpon to proue, seeing it is rather tried and discerned by these, then knowne by it selfe without other holy affections going with it, and for that many of tender age in Christ, and yonglings, cannot be certaine and throughly perswaded that they haue faith, and consequently, that their sinnes are forgiuen them, and yet by infallible signes and tokens we know that it is so. I speake of the least measure of it: for of the stronger faith, the question is easier. And the weakest measure of faith I call that, when an humbled soule longeth,1 and almost fainteth for Gods mercie in Christ; and although he be not assured of it, yet he seeth that it cannot be denied: