A10945:1752
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 if this liberty of Gods servants be not either known of some good Christians, or not believed,1 I deny not but even they (as yet) may go without §Dthis privilege in great part, accordingly as we may see in many. But this need not be, if they knew and were persuaded of Gods liberality and bounty towards them, as some others are, who is so far from denying grace hereto, that he hath pleasure to see them use it well to whom he granteth it. And until this be, that they draw by faith daily strength from Jesus Christ to subdue their lusts, they cannot obtain to find the Christian life easy to them, as some others do, but go to work by their own strength in all their duties, and by the virtue of their prayers hoping to prevail against their sins; which indeed are not conquered by any such means, but remain in their old strength still: the which they seeing, that for all their labouring and striving §Eagainst them, yet they do not find that they are weakened or abated in them, but that although they toil themselves much, yet they profit little; they begin to be discouraged and faint, even in using the means which they did, beholding how they stick fast still in the mire wherein before they lay: and so they being discouraged, fall into some great sorrow, or which is little differing, break out into security and looseness. And this slavery they are brought unto, through the malice and subtlety of the divil, who seeing their unablenesse ⟨p. 504⟩to believe the promise of God, (which is, that he will strengthen them against §Ftheir special infirmities) doth play the Lion, holding them under with unbelief.
Now if this liberty of Gods seruants be not either knowen of some good Christians, or not beleeued,1 I deny not but euen they (as yet) may goe without §Dthis priuiledge in great part, accordingly as we may see in many. But this need not be, if they knew and were perswaded of Gods liberality and bounty towards them, as some others are, who is so farre from denying grace hereto, that he hath pleasure to see them vse it well to whome he granteth it. And vntill this be, that they draw by faith daily strength from Iesus Christ to subdue their lusts, they cannot obtaine to finde the Christian life easie to them, as some others doe, but goe to worke by their owne strength in all their duties, and by the vertue of their praiers hoping to preuaile against their sinnes; which indeed are not conquered by any such meanes, but remaine in their old strength still: the which they seeing, that for all their labouring and striuing