A10945:1331
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.
And to what great purpose shall it be to enjoin watchfulness over the other parts of our life, if in company we have not an especial regard of it, thereby to take all good opportunity to make our companies profitable? For daily experience teacheth how many occasions of offending God, and of troubling our selves are offered and occasioned therein: and were we not better be absent one from another, then in such sort meet together? Besides, what an unruly member the tongue is, though it be small,1 the Apostle declareth §Dwhen he saith: That it setteth on fire the whole body, and is it self set on fire by hell. And as for the heart which setteth it on work, who is ignorant how ready that is every way as the company shall be, to offend, either by tetchiness, conceits, misconstruing; or by looseness, and lightness, and such like? And both these being well considered,2 how many companies shall be found, where one is not the worse for another? where one corrupteth not the other? where there are not fallings out, quarrels and debate; or profane and endless talk of the world, jesting, vain and idle speech, if not filthy communication and ribaldry; or where there is not buying and selling of those which are absent? And as for lying,3 swearing (as Hosea speaketh) §Ewith such other abomination, it goeth through the land: and where these fail, what other speech is in stead of them most commonly, but telling of tales, needless news, and such like foolish and heathenish talk, even in such as profess; which were bad enough for them which have not heard of the Gospel?
And to what great purpose shall it be to inioyne watchfulnesse ouer the other parts of our life, if in companie we haue not an especiall regard of it, thereby to take all good oportunitie to make our companies profitable? For daily experience teacheth how many occasions of offending God, and of troubling our selues are offered and occasioned therein: and were we not better be absent one from another, then in such sort meete together? Besides, what an vnruly member the tongue is, though it be small,