A10945:1730
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.
1But thanks be to God for his unspeakable mercy, who hath provided, that the longer we live, the better we may know it. For the longer that we have believed Gods promise, and been acquainted with it, who doubteth, but that we may much more clearly be persuaded of it, then in former times when we first believed, and when we had not as yet so often considered it, nor so deeply weighed what might hinder and weaken our faith, or come against it?§H For at the first enlightening of our hearts with this sun-shine of faith, we have many mists and clouds cast before our eyes, to dim & darken it: many doubts arising from our own weakness, unworthiness & feeling of our sins when we have had as yet little experience of Gods tender compassion & care over us, or at least when little marked of us; much fear troubleth us then, because we see many things to accuse us, and for that we do not many duties which we hear taught unto us; but when we are better acquainted with him, we more easily believe, that he will forgive them all unto us. And as the young child is not able to stand and go alone, till time hath brought more strength: even so it fareth with us. But when we have after longer time seen the will and §Imind of God to be constant & unchangeable,2 our own care to please God to be unfeigned though unperfect (more then which nothing is required of us) and that the best of Gods servants have had the same infirmities as well as we, & that we have liberty, when we see our weakness to seek pardon of the same at the hands of our good God; these and such like considerations after longer time, when we have oft weighed, God hath given us greater strength of faith, and strengthened us to wax more confident, even as we have withal become more humble and obedient. So far is it off, that this assurance the longer time we have enjoyed it, should be further off from us.
1But thanks be to God for his vnspeakable mercy, who hath prouided, that the longer we liue, the better we may know it. For the longer that we haue beleeued Gods promise, and beene acquainted with it, who doubteth, but that we may much more cleerely be perswaded of it, then in former times when we first beleeued, and when we had not as yet so often considered it, nor so deepely weighed what might hinder and weaken our faith, or come against it?