A10945:1384
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 in some sort I have showed how we should look to our selves when we are alone, and how we should be occupied in that time of the day wherein we are free from the works of our calling and from company, that is to say: In keeping our selves from idleness and vain wanderings, and if it may be in doing some good, at leastwise ready and prepared thereto, that we may always even alone as in company suspect our selves, and pass our time in fear, and be mindful of Satan's enterprises. Also such caveats or cautions as §KI have thought needful, I have added, whether we be occupied about things lawful, or things which are holy in our solitariness, or in avoiding things which are evil: and if for all that which I have said of directing us to the well spending of the time alone, it shall not be able to persuade some, I think it the best way to shame them with the examples of the heathen Philosophers, and to send them to learn of them, who refuse to be taught of the Scriptures. ⟨p. 383⟩§AAnd amongst the rest Marcus Tullius Cicero may be one,1 who although he knew not Christ nor his doctrine, yet he had such a continual love to learning and virtue, that as his writings do testify how he was occupied in the eyes of others; so this one of his sayings showeth, how he passed his time alone: I being weary (saith he) of living amongst wicked men, with whom all places in a manner do swarm, I betake my self unto solitariness, as much as I can; yet that none may think me to trifle out my time idly, (that I say no more) let my books (which were many volumes) speak, how in my solitariness I have been occupied.
Thus in some sort I haue shewed how we should looke to our selues when we are alone, and how we should be occupied in that time of the day wherein we are free from the workes of our calling and from companie, that is to say: In keeping our selues from idlenesse and vaine wandrings, and if it may be in doing some good, at leastwise readie and prepared thereto, that we may alwaies euen alone as in companie suspect our selues, and passe our time in feare, and be mindfull of Sathans enterprises. Also such caueats or cautions as §KI haue thought needfull, I haue added, whether we be occupied about things lawfull, or things which are holy in our solitarinesse, or in auoyding things which are euill: and if for all that which I haue said of directing vs to the well spending of the time alone, it shall not be able to perswade some, I thinke it the best way to shame them with the examples of the heathen Philosophers, and to send them to learne of them, who refuse to be taught of the Scriptures.