A10945:1649
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.
Now followeth the third kind of general lets, which do much hinder a Christian from fruitful and cheerful walking through his pilgrimage, as becometh him. And to this I refer all the outward occasions, whereby Satan draweth us to evil, and by the which he stirreth up most poisoned thoughts and affections in our hearts, though the things themselves, whereby he unsettleth us, be not evil: as,1 by afflictions and chastisements; by prosperity and abundance, or variety of Gods blessings; by family matters at home, by our worldly (yet lawful) dealings abroad; by that §Cwhich we see and hear; by change of our estate, place, acquaintance, and other our affairs; by the deep security, and bold sinning of others, who fear no judgement day; by the hard handling of those which live godly,2 by such as are mighty and in authority, who (yet) ought not to be terrors to to such as do well: and to be short, by other things innumerable; yea,3 to say the truth, we go about nothing in the world how lawful soever, no not our prayers themselves, and hearing of Sermons, which are the holiest actions of our lives, but from them all doth he take occasion to hurt and wound our souls: as I will for the better instruction of the Reader, in as few words as I can, set down and show; to rouse and stir up such as have care to do well, §Dto become more vigilant against his sleights and snares when they shall better know them, and be more wary in all their ways; and that they may see, that there are causes sufficient, why they should daily be settled in a godly course, when they have so many occasions on every side to hinder them.
NOw followeth the third kind of generall lets, which do much hinder a Christian from fruitfull and chearfull walking through his pilgrimage, as becommeth him. And to this I referre all the outward occasions, whereby Sathan draweth vs to euill, and by the which he stirreth vp most poysoned thoughts and affections in our hearts, though the things themselues, whereby he vnsetleth vs, be not euill: as,1