A10945:184
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.
But if this be not enough, but thou wilt marvel, why God doth thus deal with thee, and suffer thee to fall to such depth of doubting, sorrow, and fear, although he loveth thee; yea and that after thou hast felt such comfort ⟨p. 39⟩§Ato thy conscience: I must make mine answer more full and large, for the further satisfying of thee herein. I say therefore, although this be by the wise providence of God, that many of his truly begotten children (who therefore have had sound comfort in Christ) do fall sometimes, and that very dangerously, and do greatly waver, and doubt oftentimes, and so become uncomfortable; which the Lord disposeth: least by their sudden change from so damnable and uncomfortable an estate to so happy and joyful, they should be lifted up, and conceited, and so become secure and presumptuous (the forerunners and causes of a fearful fall) yet this is certain, it ought not thus to be on our parts: for it is (as I have said before) a weakness, which must §Bbe withstood and overcome. For the attaining whereto, the occasion of this doubting in him who hath once believed, must be searched out, and so removed: which ordinarily is our own infirmity, neglect of duty, and slightness in the manner of performing the same, or some particular sin; also proneness to sin, a nourishing of the same and strength of it, or long lying therein: whereupon the tender conscience feareth that his former comfort was but deceitful and vain, and so doubteth of his own estate.
But if this bee not enough, but thou wilt marueile, why God doth thus deale with thee, and suffer thee to fall to such depth of doubting, sorrow, and feare, although he loueth thee; yea and that after thou hast felt such comfort ⟨p. 39⟩§Ato thy conscience: I must make mine answere more full and large, for the further satisfying of thee herein. I say therfore, although this be by the wise prouidence of God, that many of his truly begotten children (who therefore haue had sound comfort in Christ) doe fall sometimes, and that very dangerously, and do greatly wauer, and doubt oftentimes, and so become vncomfortable; which the Lord disposeth: least by their sudden chaunge from so damnable and vncomfortable an estate to so happie and ioyfull, they should bee lifted vp, and conceited, and so become secure and presumptuous (the forerunners and causes of a fearefull fall) yet this is certaine, it ought not thus to be on our parts: for it is (as I haue said before) a weaknes, which must