A10945:191
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.
Now if to these two we add his malice (for he is not called the envious man for naught) and his unsearchable subtlety, and exceeding strength;1 and that which is greater then all the rest, that he most hurteth, when it least appeareth, when we least suspect it: for which cause it is said, that he changeth §Ehimself into an angel of light, 2. Cor. 11.13, 14. we shall not marvel, though without any means, or outward occasions, he raiseth great terror, and dismaidnes, especially the Lord giving him leave so to do, for the good of us which are exercised with them. For besides that,2 we are enticed sometime to the sins, which by nature we love: we are also (especially such as are thus brought low, in the anguish and bitterness of their soul) tempted to such evils as are very strange, and such as we abhor the very least conceit of them; ⟨p. 42⟩and find not the least part of our nature to incline to them; though otherwise §Fwe complain of great frailty: as to have thoughts to blaspheme God, to be tempted; to lay violent hands on others, not moved thereto by any hate or malice; or to devour our selves, to despair and distrust of Gods mercy and grace: all which sins with such other, the party hath never had delight in, when he was yet overtaken with some other sins, and had his heart drawn after them indeed; and yet he is feared with the guiltiness of those,3 which he ever loathed. And when the devil can fasten upon such as this weak person is, in this wise, he especially laboureth to dim their knowledge and judgement, that they may have no sure hold of any point of doctrine, which may soundly comfort them, that thus he may, like a Lyon, devour §Gthem more speedily: For when they cannot be persuaded in their judgement, that God can, or will pardon them, how are they able to desire, or pray for it, when it shall be beaten into them, that they have no faith, nor any better things in them than reprobates? how can they be moved to stir up that weak faith which they have? no more can they desire good means, as counsel, reading, or any such like, when he hath stricken this deadly blow in their consciences, that God hath forsaken them.