A10945:1740
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.
And yet as though this were not enough to be called The servants of the Almighty, Christ himself setteth out their estate to be yet more glorious, when he saith: I have not called you servants but friends, to whom I have communicated my secrets and mind, unto the which a servant is not commonly admitted. And yet even this is not so admirable, if it be laid with that which in another place is written: That God hath adopted us to be his sons and heirs, yea fellow-heirs with Christ himself. Not much unlike hereunto, is that which is §Ewritten in another place: If ye will keep my commandments, ye shall be to me the most precious of all the earth, though all the earth be mine. If the godly be his precious treasure, how can they but be delighted in of him, safely kept also, and preserved from all that might annoy them? and being so dear unto him, how will he suffer them to want any thing that is good? And therefore Kings for their honour they are called, though not earthly, inferior to the angels indeed; but yet, through hope, the most precious people among all nations, ⟨p. 500⟩though all the earth be his:1 whereby they rule over Satan the prince of §Fthis world, by faith, and tread under their feet the kingdom of darkness and sin, and so become conquerors over him and the world. For the Scripture teacheth them this wisdom, the spirit giveth them this grace, and witnesseth this to be true,2 that he which hath faith, overcometh the world: that is, maketh that, which is in it, as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, to be subject to him. An honour which Kings and Princes, for the most part, attain not unto: for many of them aswell as of others, worship the beast, and offer to him their crown, and willingly submit themselves to his slavery. And this honour which he bequeatheth to his faithful ones, is one §Gcommodity and fruit of his provident care and fatherly regard that he hath over them.
And yet as though this were not enough to be called The seruants of the Almighty, Christ himselfe setteth out their estate to be yet more glorious, when he saith: I haue not called you seruants but friends, to whom I haue communicated my secrets and minde, vnto the which a seruant is not commonly admitted. And yet euen this is not so admirable, if it be laied with that which in another place is written: That God hath adopted vs to be his sonnes and heires, yea fellow-heires with Christ himselfe. Not much vnlike hereunto, is that which is