A10945:1357
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.
For example: to speak of christian recreation,1 wherein a part of company keeping is taken up for the most part,2 which is an exercise not separate from godliness, of some thing that is indifferent for the necessary refreshing of the mind or body, or both: who doubteth, but that God hath taught his servants how to use it; although others will never come under any rule or government? For they who will not be subject in other parts of their lives to Gods commandments, much less will be controlled or directed by them in this: wherein they imagine they have free liberty to use it as they list. Such therefore as do claim the benefit of it, must be as careful to use it aright as to look to enjoy the liberty of it, not as they who if they once get §Ethis by the end, That it is lawful, never enquire further of the lawful manner of using it. The time when it may be used, is not when we list,3 but when we have need of it through weariness and other unfitness: for to that end the Lord appointed such intermission for us. And though some desire it not greatly to drive away from themselves annoyances of mind or body thereby; yet to othersome it is not to be denied in either of both those respects, they being careful to use it; as God doth allow: and in going about it, because ⟨p. 374⟩through the corruption of our hearts we become easily unsettled by §Fsuch actions,4 it shall be very expedient to strengthen our selves by some looking up to God in our use thereof, that we may take no hurt to our souls whiles we refresh our selves; seeing all the creatures of God are good, to the faithful user of them, if they be received with prayer and thanks by which they are sanctified: and he who counteth it too harsh and sad a matter to desire grace of God to use it aright, may well fear that he shall offend in it.