A10945:1883
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.
These therefore, when they once know and believe it, receiving it with such joy as I have said, do not (as carnal men imagine they will) abuse this precious liberty to looseness and licentiousness, as not caring what they do, or how carelessly they look to themselves, seeing they have a promise from God, that they shall persevere in his favour and in a godly life unto their end. They do not (I say) by this occasion wax slothful, worldly, idle, vain,1 or §Cany other way seek to shake off the Lords yoke, as weary of the same: (and yet I deny not, but that this doctrine is thus abused of many:) but as they know that perseverance cometh not but by daily good proceeding, so they gather strength and encouragement from thence to go forward more cheerfully; yea, they go about all duties which they know to pertain to them, and the means also which help thereto much more willingly and readily, because they are persuaded they shall not lose their labour, being assured that God hath ordained the variety of helps that they should grow thereby. And indeed so they do: for the same means being daily continued with reverence, by which they have attained to any measure of Gods grace already, they become §Dfaster settled in the Christian life, and wax more sound and constant; as also more fruitful in faith, love, patience, obedience, &c. and withstand all hinderances on the contrary: and thus make an end of their life accordingly.
These therefore, when they once know and beleeue it, receiuing it with such ioy as I haue said, doe not (as carnall men imagine they will) abuse this precious libertie to loosenesse and licentiousnesse, as not caring what they do, or how carelesly they looke to themselues, seeing they haue a promise from God, that they shall perseuere in his fauour and in a godly life vnto their end. They doe not (I say) by this occasion waxe slouthfull, worldly, idle, vaine,1 or §Cany other way seeke to shake off the Lords yoke, as weary of the same: (and yet I denie not, but that this doctrine is thus abused of many:) but as they know that perseuerance commeth not but by daily good proceeding, so they gather strength and incouragement from thence to goe forward more cheerefully; yea, they goe about all duties which they know to perteine to them, and the meanes also which helpe thereto much more willingly and readily, because they are persuaded they shall not lose their labour, being assured that God hath ordeined the varietie of helps that they should grow thereby. And indeed so they do: for the same meanes being daily continued with reuerence, by which they haue attained to any measure of Gods grace alreadie, they become