A10945:1652
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.
He therefore who hath learned in prosperity to want and be abased, and to look for a change before it cometh,1 that he may not in the same be changed from a godly mind; he it is that shall be delivered in the time of affliction from manifold disturbances, yea although they be sore and great. But if our troubles be many and grievous, (as no man can warrant himself to be free from either) it is to be known, that all the privileges of Christians, and their whole armour, will be little enough for the enabling of us to stand safe and upright in them, and to keep our hearts in the peaceable and faithful serving of God. And otherwise, our froward nature being suddenly §Iprovoked by losses, injuries, heavy tidings, disappointings of our hope, or other such molestations when we looked for no such things before, will pass her bounds in a moment, and carry us into sundry unquietnesses. And when we are unsettled in such a manner, we do easily fall into further degrees of impatience and fretting, whatsoever we thought of our strength before. And therefore our Saviour said:2 I have given you many comfortable instructions, that in me ye may have peace when tribulation cometh. And I have not marvelled when I have often heard, that many vexations and bitter anguishes of mind have possessed the lives of some Christians by reason of their crosses: who having many commendable parts in them, have not for all that, such §Kwisdom to provide for themselves better shelter against the time of need (God yet ministering such variety of helps to them) to the end they might not be destitute. These therefore if we enjoy not the benefit of daily, to make the heavenly life sweet and pleasant unto us in the middest of so many crosses as we meet with,3 and namely, hope which experience bringeth; it can no otherwise be, but that there shall arise many unsettlings, discouragements ⟨p. 469⟩§Aand uncheerful times, even unto them which have received some good fruit by the Gospel: so far off shall it be from them, to learn experience of Gods help in their need, whereby they might hope for the like afterwards.