A10945:1758
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.
Another branch of this privilege or honour, that Christians have above other men, (which though it necessarily accompany the former, yet because it best appeareth, when it is particularly laid open, and helpeth much to strengthen the weak, and to comfort the best) is this:1 that they may be kept and preserved §Dfrom great and reproachful evils, that seldom or not at all (if it be expedient) they shall be overcome of them: which the Apostle would never so often and earnestly have exhorted the godly unto, saying: See that ye walk unblameable and without rebuke; and in another place: Walk not offensively towards them that are without; except he had seen, how they might have attained thereunto. Therefore the prophet saith:2 I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee; and again: Let me not wander from thy commandments; and again: I swerved not from thy precepts: 3they are the joy of my heart. And the same spirit guiding Gods people, they are like minded to him; and would not wander nor swerve from his will. And the cause of this §Emust be considered, which is this: they count preciously of gods word, and therefore lay it up in their heart; and are persuaded, that it is the greatest gain to follow the doctrine of it: and therefore they count it not tedious to abstain from the sins which other cannot be drawn from; but willingly forsake them, which other men with tooth and nail hold fast, and continue in.
ANother branch of this priuiledge or honour, that Christians haue aboue other men, (which though it necessarily accompanie the former, yet because it best appeareth, when it is particularly laide open, and helpeth much to strengthen the weake, and to comfort the best) is this:1 that they may be kept and preserued §Dfrom great and reprochfull euils, that seldome or not at all (if it be expedient) they shall be ouercome of them: which the Apostle would neuer so often and earnestly haue exhorted the godly vnto, saying: See that yee walke vnblameable and without rebuke; and in another place: Walke not offensiuely towards them that are without; except he had seene, how they might haue attained thereunto. Therefore the prophet saith: