A10945:1606
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.
BUT further, as he findeth best opportunity, he deceiveth us many other ways; and namely, in taking up our hearts in endless, foolish and vain desires of things, which we neither can nor ought to enjoy; as the lust of the heart, of the eye, and the pride of life: and so feeding us with the air, even with most vain and deceitful dreams, besotteth us with too much pleasure-taking in transitory liberties and commodities of this life; which pull our minds as §Dmuch from godly duties, as they carry them after such unsavoury follies. About many dangerous fantasies he occupieth our heads, that we may neglect the seeking of better things, especially in the time when we should be best occupied.
BVT further, as he findeth best oportunitie, he deceiueth vs many other wayes; and namely, in taking vp our hearts in endlesse, foolish and vaine desires of things, which we neither can nor ought to enioy; as the lust of the heart, of the eye, and the pride of life: and so feeding vs with the ayre, euen with most vaine and deceiptfull dreames, besotteth vs with too much pleasure-taking in transitorie liberties and commodities of this life; which pull our mindes as §Dmuch from godly duties, as they carie them after such vnsauourie follies. About many daungerous fantasies he occupieth our heads, that we may neglect the seeking of better things, especially in the time when we should be best occupied.
I mean by these, all sorts of worldly lusts, which are more noisome and dangerous then the evil affections mentioned before: though (one would think) we had little need to be shaken and distempered with greater then they, but rather study how to make them weakened and subdued in us. These worldly lusts, are lusts of the flesh which belong to the present state of this life and world: as the exceeding love and desire of pleasures, riches and estimation, §Eor honour, &c. For if he can fasten our delights on these, we are carried headlong, as the chariot by wild horses is overturned. I will show the danger we are in by means of these worldly lusts in two kinds: The lusts of the flesh, properly so called; and the inordinate desire of riches and cares of the world. How a true Christian may possibly be disguised by these, (I say) that he shall be thereby as another man, and sometime grossly overcome of them, I will first show, and then add some remedies against them. The first