A10945:1937
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 first, if any do marvel why I write any direction at all as though God had not set down in the scripture a way for us all to walk in: to this I answer, That if that were a good reason why no help for mens weakness should be set forth in writing, because it is the same which is in the scripture; then it §Ishould follow with as great reason, that nothing should be preached, because all that which is preached (if we preach in the name and by the authority of God) is out of the scripture. But seeing there can be no doubt made of that, & therefore that both preaching & writing are singular gifts of God for the building up of his church; & that all helps are not enough to hold us on still in our Christian course: therefore all men see that this doubt is soon answered, & will grant, that it is necessary to have daily direction for our lives drawn out of the scriptures, though we have them extant among us. This being so, I will proceed to show the cause, why I have taken in hand any such thing in this book: and will answer particular questions and objections afterwards. I §Khave considered,1 being conversant among the people, of whom, many have received the gospel gladly, what great wants and infirmities are among them: and as diverse of them conceive and understand that which is taught them with much ado; so they as hardly keep it in memory, and therefore make the less use of it. So that, although all things necessary to salvation and godliness, be taught one time or other, where an ordinary ministry is; yet, as I ⟨p. 571⟩§Ahave good proof, it must be a very long time to bring the most part, even of the forwarder sort, to be able to guide themselves, and to lay together in one sum those things, which have been taught them at many times: I did therefore endeavour my self, to lay before them a sum of that in one view, which they have been learning many years: that they having the same brought into some easy and familiar kind of order, may through the blessing of God find help and ease by it.
ANd first, if any doe maruell why I write any direction at all as though God had not set downe in the scripture a way for vs all to walke in: to this I answere, That if that were a good reason why no helpe for mens weakenesse should be set forth in writing, because it is the same which is in the scripture; then it