A10945:1488
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.
TO begin therefore first generally, even he it is, Satan I mean, that withstandeth us in every good thing, (as I have said before) and leadeth us amiss many ways,1 although we see our selves set free from the infernal woe. And therefore it is,2 that our hearts cannot so soon be ranging though it be never so little, but he is ready to meet with them and set them forward in some evil;3 and by his most sly subtlety, he fasteneth our liking and our affections §Hthere, before we can be aware of it: so that we marvel after, to see such a sudden unsettledness in us, and such a change from a well-ordered course wherein we were before. And hereby it is also, (of him I mean) that we can deal about nothing but we may possibly, and be oft times, snared with it: he knowing how to use all outward objects to our hurt,4 as wealth, beauty, friends, liberty, peace, and all blessings; and contrarily, losses, sickness, disgrace, &c. If that we be at home, he works by domesticall affairs: if abroad, he taketh occasion from thence. So that wheresoever, or whatsoever we do or be occupied in, the Scripture teacheth us, that he is about us how good soever we be, if not in us as in the men of this world: and that which is most §Idangerous of all,5 he doth most craftily deceive us when we do least suspect it. More particularly to lay forth this, I cannot here conveniently.
TO begin therefore first generally, euen he it is, Sathan I meane, that withstandeth vs in euery good thing, (as I haue said before) and leadeth vs amisse many waies,1 although we see our selues set free from the infernall woe. And therefore it is,2