A10945:1762
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.
Again, if we might not be able to find sweetness and pleasure in this walking with God, why would the Lord himself say in Deuteronomy:1 Rejoice before the Lord in all that thou shalt set thy hand unto, that is, go about throughout the day? and in another place: why would he reprove Israel for not serving him in joyfulness and gladness?2 whereby God teacheth that this grace should be laboured after in our particular callings: that the husbandman, §Bartificer, magistrate, and preacher should and may walk in their vocation with cheerfulness; who yet, if they do their duties as it behoveth them, shall most hardly do it of all the rest: and the same I say of the poor man, and the servant and of all that walk in a lawful calling, seeing they serve in Gods work. Which would not a little repair their lives and increase their comfort, over it is now with the most of them who go to their work as slaves, and as the horse and ox only for their bellies sake, and not serving God in doing their work to men. So that we knowing this,3 that we may be merry, and even find delight in the heavenly life, and in flying the corrupt behaviour and bad example that is in the world (and that, with much more contentation §Cand freedom from fear, then the carnal gospeller in all that his eye coveteth, or his soul longeth after) what would we desire more? Even as the psalmist saith, what greater pleasure would we wish, or better thing desire?4 All the pleasures of the earth are not to be compared with this wisdom,5 to be persuaded, that Gods service is perfect freedom, and that it is sound pleasure to walk with him. And to say the trueth, our life must needs be mopish and tedious, if it were not thus: and all that we do should go untowardly forward, as the froward servant which is sent against his will, goeth awkely about his business. But God making it delight and pleasure to us, we may set our hearts thereupon, not by fits, but mind it wholly for the most part, and principally