A10945:1666
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.
What go we about, wherein we may not sensibly and easily perceive, that the devil is at hand to hurt us? so truly is it said, that he rangeth about the whole earth to bewitch, not the ungodly alone (whom he hath sure enough already) but even Gods people; as may clearly be seen and felt of us, if we give him never so small advantage. This I have said of some of the lets, to stir up the Reader to observe others by them; as, coldness, deadness of spirit (a near companion to slothfulness) which causeth men to say: A Lion is in the way, when they have quenched the spirit of grace in themselves, which sometime made them willing and ready to their duties. Then, Delay §Iand driving off good attempts, till the season and fit time be past, wherein they should either resist evil, or do good: a common evil even among the better sort of Christians, to let pass the opportunity; and under this pretence, that they cannot do the good which they would, therefore to do none at all: whereas we are taught, that a word in season is like apples of gold and pictures of silver; so is a thing in season: and we have been taught, not to drive off from day to day. To these may be added, a carelessness in observing and looking to our hearts and ways, which grow fast upon us: a yielding too readily to temptation; whereas we ought in such cases to put a knife to our throat, and wean our appetite, Pro. 23.2. A common custom and boldness in sinning:§K when yet we should fear all our ways, Job 9. Profaneness: which yet ought not to be among Gods servants, Heb. 12.16. Looseness of the eye, ear and tongue: though the holy Ghost hath commanded, that we should be slow to speak, James 1. and our Saviour hath willed, to pluck out such an eye, Math. 5. and both teach, Prou. 15.32: That he who turneth his ear from instruction (much more if he should lend it to evil words) despiseth his ⟨p. 475⟩