A10945:1701
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 further, because the knowledge of our hearts, (if we stay there) I mean,1 of the manifold evil lusts of them, doth make us the more heady and greedy to fulfil them, when we know them by the law of God to be condemned in us: we have further faithfully determined to watch over them with all diligence, that neither any of those which have already been mentioned, neither any other (as far as we may know them) may lurk or have §Htheir abode within us with our liking, but that we may purge them out: and not those only which are apparently gross, but even such as are more secret, being not yet come near their ripeness: and therefore wheresoever we become, or in whatsoever we have to do, not to neglect this part of Christian duty; but especially there and then, where and when we suspect or have cause to fear more danger thereby: as in vehement and strong temptations, and grievous and long continuing afflictions, there to stand the more upon our watch, &c. So that whether we be in company or alone, in dealings abroad or matters at home, by one occasion or by other, yet still to have this purpose fixed in us, that as far as our frail memory will suffer us to remember §Iit, we may go forward in the watching and observing of them. Which must the rather be done; because, as the heart is the fountain of life, and from thence we have it, That we live; so from thence we must fetch the beginning of well living: from an evil and unclean heart, cometh no part of good life, no more then good fruit from an evil tree. But all the abomination of the life, even the most odious and vile, (as adultery, murder, idolatry, heresy, &c.) they have their beginning there, they are conceived and nourished there, they have their proceeding from thence; and God is long and grievously dishonoured there for the most part, before man by the fruit of it can be or is offended.
Now further, because the knowledge of our hearts, (if we stay there) I meane,1 of the manifold euill lusts of them, doth make vs the more headie and greedie to fulfill them, when we know them by the lawe of God to be condemned in vs: we haue further faithfully determined to watch ouer them with all diligence, that neither any of those which haue alreadie bene mentioned, neither any other (as farre as we may know them) may lurke or haue