A10945:1775
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.
it might have seemed to give him place among the Epicures (who take their pleasure whiles they live, looking for nothing after death) but that he declared himself at other times, to be of a contrary mind. But all these (as I have said) proceeded from mans frailty, as we may afterwards hear Job himself to confess. For who doth not marvel, in that so great trouble and anguish of his, that he uttered not one word either against his wife, or against his friends dealing so unwisely with him, and so sore provoking him,§G as furious and raging men are wont to do in such a case? So that we should not so much marvel,1 that he could be moved to any impatience at all, being stricken down with so many and weighty blows of sorrow; as that he could keep any measure therein, that he neither brake out into rage against them which so vexed him, nor into blasphemy against God (which satan laboured most especially to have brought him unto.) Neither is he to be counted an impatient man, who doth not by and by resist and overcome all vexations of body and torments of mind, with such strength and constancy as were to be wished; but he, who so goeth to work, that the hellish spirit in the end prevaileth over him and hath the upper hand. Therefore, most wisely and fitly §Hto this purpose,2 doth the apostle James admonish: that in judging about Jobs conflict, we consider not so much, what came to pass in the combat and fight, as we mark the end of the battle, that is to say, that God did inwardly uphold his servant, and pronounced him an happy man: and though he suffered him to be very grievously tempted, yet never beyond his strength, which he in most fit time and season did support him with. And what one among all the Saints of God hath not proved and found this true, if we mark and consider their words and their lives? Let thus much be granted therefore, that the flesh raged in Job, and so, that he offended grievously; and no marvel, for he was a man: but yet (God himself being judge of this matter) he never §Iwholly gave place to the flesh: but (although it was not without many wounds received in the battle) yet the spirit prevailed, and had the upper hand in him.