A10945:1781
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 if it were not thus, that they might be received again after some grievous offence, what encouragement were there to any Christian, to strive against §Ksin and seek to live godly, seeing one time or other, the frowardest may be led into that sin which he never thought he should have been deceived by? So that God would have us know, not only that we may rise up from our falls,1 and return to him again as to our father; but also, he commandeth us so to do, and looketh for it at our hands, and is offended if we do it not; as may plainly appear by his own words in the prophet Jeremiah: ⟨p. 515⟩§ADo men fall and not rise again? or go out of the way and not return? 2I waited and looked, and there was no man that said: What have I done? 3If God wait and look for it, that such as have perversely offended, should return;4 and taketh it ill at their hands that they do not: is it to be doubted, whether they may or no? Yet more may be said to this purpose. Me thinks that which our saviour Christ speaketh to Peter, is admirable:5 who was not content to teach him this doctrine among other, Of the return of a straying sheep; but because he would strongly arm him against despair, at the time when he should fall into that deep gulf of denying him, he saith unto him,; Simon, Simon, 6Satan §Bhath desired you to sift you as it were wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou shalt be converted, strengthen thy brethren. Wherein most lovingly and wisely, although covertly, he forewarneth him, that though Satan should drive him far from his standing, and almost glean him out from the rest of his fellows, as an Apostate: yet for all that, he should not remain separate from him, & through unbelief afraid to come home to him again, but in any wise think that he must return: and for more sure token thereof, he should afterward convert others; seeing by his experience he should be best able to persuade them, as having most deeply fallen himself and therefore might hardliest of others have been raised up again and pardoned.