A10945:1585
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.
1And therefore that we may find some ease in our troubles, let us gather §Fstrength from him, who will not fail, neither can be resisted: his word is the sword that must cut off this Goliaths head: and our faith is the hand in which we must hold it.2 And thus God saith in his word to all his: This short trouble of yours, is to bring you a long comfort afterwards, when ye have endured it a while: and they are sent you, that my power may appear in your weakness, and that you may have proof of my grace dwelling in you; as faith, hope, love, humbleness, obedience: and to make the world contemned, and all that is in it (as our fleshly lusts,3 which fight against our solves) to be renounced, that they may not annoy us: and to cure many diseases, as carelessness, high mindedness and too much ease-taking in the world; for the rod bringeth wisdom;4 §Gand Josephs brethren said: We suffer these things worthily, for that we sinned against our brother. They are not (I say) sent, but for our good; and they drive us more fervently to God; and cause us to call on him: yea, and they make us happy whiles we suffer them, (and like unto Christ himself, who was called the man of sorrows) and give us matter of rejoicing after: and therefore we should be thankful for them.5 But we do not a little bewray our unkind dealing with God, who are so unwilling to hear of them. For it is no less then a great gift;6 yea, a privilege unto us, as the Apostle saith: To you it is given for Christ, that not only ye should believe in him, but also suffer for his sake. And what unquietness doth it raise in us, when we refuse and impatiently §Hcast off the Lords yoke? the very fear of it is far greater then the suffering it self. Therefore we ought to resolve with our selves, when we see the will of God is we shall suffer it, that it is the best for us & very expedient; as Christ said to his Disciples when he was to depart from them: