A10945:1397
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 first, although a man should much better perform all Christian duties every day,1 who hath fewest afflictions to draw his heart from them, and who hath most helps by peace & wealth, to set him forward therein: yet (as men go to work) we see it is commonly clean contrary. For by reason of this, that men are so readily carried to use all earthly things amiss, even to their own hurt and hinderance, and so hardly brought to be the better by benefits; it cometh to pass, that it is found by experience with us for the most part, as we read in ages past that it was with men then: that is, the more that a man hath of these earthly commodities,2 the less he is enriched with spiritual §Ggrace; and as they are increased & multiplied, so this decayeth and is diminished. And yet I do not here speak of the wicked of the world (as oft times I put the Reader in mind:) but even of those which go before others in the embracing of the Gospel. For even of them, many are very faulty and blame worthy in this matter: and therefore they had need to be willing to take knowledge of it by the least watch-word, and amend it; and not tarry with the world, till they be shamed for it and confounded.
And first, although a man should much better performe all Christian duties euery day,1 who hath fewest afflictions to draw his heart from them, and who hath most helpes by peace & wealth, to set him forward therein: yet (as men go to worke) we see it is cōmonly cleane contrary. For by reason of this, that men are so readily caried to vse all earthly things amisse, euen to their owne hurt and hinderance, and so hardly brought to be the better by benefits; it commeth to passe, that it is found by experience with vs for the most part, as we read in ages past that it was with men then: that is, the more that a man hath of these earthly commodities,2 the lesse he is inriched with spirituall §Ggrace; and as they are increased & multiplied, so this decaieth and is diminished. And yet I do not here speake of the wicked of the world (as oft times I put the Reader in mind:) but euen of those which go before others in the imbracing of the Gospell. For euen of them, many are very faultie and blame worthie in this matter: and therefore they had need to be willing to take knowledge of it by the least watch-word, and amend it; and not tary with the world, till they be shamed for it and confounded.