A10945:1618
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.
If in this sort or the like,1 we should be provoked in our affairs and dealings ⟨p. 456⟩to go to work, (as it is the manner of the most to do) we should so blemish,§F yea deface the christian life, whatsoever graces of God should be in us, that we lying open to our adversary but in some of these for want of a particular regard had against them, we should need no other occasions to make our lives irksome,2 reproachful and uncomfortable. But I have hitherto laid forth only some of the diseases that grow out of a worldly mind in mens dealings: but there is no less evil incurred of an earthly minded man, though otherwise religious, (even whiles he is free from all affairs) whereby his profits and substance are increased. For he who doth not yet see the deceitfulness of riches, how they blindfold the heart that it cannot see clearly the beauty of christianity; alas, how is he led about of his fantasies (like a fool) to §Gdream of the happiness of his outward estate? Oh, what pleasure is it to him to think of that which he hath? How is his heart made drunken with the fleshly rejoicing in his wealth and welfare? How doth it delight him to think what liberty he hath in the world by reason of his ability, to please himself in that which his heart carieth him to, or his eye lusteth after? when yet he is so much the more miserable, because he hath nothing to restrain him from such liberty. How doth he cast in his head what he will do hereafter, and within some few years how conveniently he will have all things about him, (I speak still of a Christian: for even so may such an one be beguiled for a season;3) and before the time be expired he is taken away from all, like the §Hfool in the Gospel, and laid in the earth?
If in this sort or the like,1