A10945:1926
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.
First,1 seeing their most precious gifts are spiritual and inward (according to that which is written; The kings daughter is all glorious within) and therefore not easily seen and beheld of such as have but outward and bodily eyes: their comeliness and beauty is like the curtains of the tabernacle, the outward and upper coverings whereof were of goats hair, rams skins,2 and badgers; but the inward were of fine twined linen, blew silk, purple and scarlet, with the most exquisite embroidering of the Cherubins upon them: So is the outward estate of Gods servants in this world, ill favoured and deformed in the eyes of men; but inwardly, beautiful as the lily,3 and sweet and §Bpleasant as the rose. Their graces therefore which God hath given them,4 as faith, hope, confidence, a pure heart, a good conscience, a well governing of themselves; and with these, meekness, patience, mercifulness, love, &c. being not perceived of them who neither know them, nor have them, nor love them: what marvel is it, though they ask for that in them, which yet is before their eyes,5 (as the soldiers that sought Christ even when they spake to him) & though they say, They behold no such grace in them; which they can not discern? The same may be said of the inward comfort and joy in the holy Ghost, which is more worth than the world.
First,1 seeing their most precious gifts are spirituall and inward (according to that which is written; The kings daughter is all glorious within) and therefore not easily seene and beheld of such as haue but outward and bodily eies: their comelinesse and beauty is like the curtaines of the tabernacle, the outward and vpper couerings whereof were of goats haire, rammes skinnes,2