A10945:142
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.
1They will also consider, that the people have many infirmities, much dullness, slippery memories, and sundry other pullbacks; all which do show the necessity of often teaching. The which being so, I profess with grief, it astonisheth me oft, when I think of the too great slackness, and unwillingness of many who have gifts; that they hearing, and knowing, that he who hath an office, must attend upon it: and again, that woe is pronounced to them who do it not:2 and that as they love Christ, they should feed his lambs, and his sheep: and also that the flock dependeth upon them: Yet that they can be content to take the commodity, and to refuse the labour, and as some do count it, too base a thing to discharge that duty. But howsoever they can easily shift it off before §Imen, they shall not be able to answer it with peace, to God. But yet where this is remedied, there may be lets enough on the Ministers behalf to hinder the hearers (yea though they should be willing to be taught) from coming by faith.3 As if he should teach often, and yet do not carefully acquaint himself with the peoples weakness, and want in conceiving the doctrine, which is to be delivered unto them; but should speak above their reach, little to their understanding, and conceiving, and consequently little to their edifying. There is nothing more like to hurt the people, then such a kind of teaching, when they shall have a learned man to preach unto them (whereby they are ready to think their case far more happy then others) and yet §Kthey shall not be able thereby to receive light, edification in faith and godliness, and sound comfort: that is not easy and plain to them, which he himself understandeth. Although it were to be wished that some things were not put forth by them to the people, which they themselves have not tried by the Scripture, and clearly seen into of the speakers, before they uttered them. I utter not this to grieve any of my brethren, who desire to do good ⟨p. 27⟩§Ain the Church of God, having received gifts of God thereunto: but to put all in mind to labour to be understood, as well as to speak the truth. And that some may more especially know, that the neglecting of plain speaking, is a chief cause of little fruit of their labours; it need not be taken heavily: