A10945:1404
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 this end we must consider, how nearly we are knit unto the same §Has hath been said,1 how naturally we desire to have all that our hearts do long after without regard, whether it be good or evil for us: which causeth us to esteem of all such things more highly then becometh us, and therefore to set our greatest care upon them, and to seek to enjoy them, whatsoever better things we loose and deprive our selves of for them. This inordinate love which we bear to any lawful liberty or blessings pertaining to this life, must be by all means possible weakened and abated in us, which we have too much through our own folly strengthened and increased. And to obtain this, as we shall be able, some persuasions I will briefly set down. First therefore, this spiritual drunkenness is to be expelled, and the inordinate §Ilove of earthly things to be weakened and abated by diligent earnest viewing and weighing, how momentany and flitting all things of the greatest reckoning under the Sun,2 are; and how uncertain hold we have of them, even when we think our selves most certain and sure of them. And further, by valuing and pricing them thereafter, as the Lord himself teacheth us to do,3 saying: The fashion or shadow of this world passeth away. And again: Happiness doth not consist in the things which a man possesseth; and of riches which is counted the chiefest of all the rest, he saith: Why dost thou weary thy self to grow rich? cease from thy wisdom: why dost thou cast thine eyes upon them? for they are nothing.
And to this end we must consider, how nearely we are knit vnto the same §Has hath bene sayd,1 how naturally we desire to haue all that our hearts do long after without regard, whether it be good or euill for vs: which causeth vs to esteeme of all such things more highly then becommeth vs, and therefore to set our greatest care vpon them, and to seeke to inioy them, whatsoeuer better things we loose and depriue our selues of for them. This inordinate loue which we beare to any lawfull libertie or blessings pertaining to this life, must be by all meanes possible weakned and abated in vs, which we haue too much through our owne folly strengthened and increased. And to obtaine this, as we shall be able, some perswasions I will briefly set downe. First therefore, this spirituall drunkennesse is to be expelled, and the inordinate