A10945:1951
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 and such like objections although they proceed from very evil men, and are uttered of them with a scoffing spirit; yet for want of knowledge and due consideration, they may be at the first, the thoughts of many simple well meaning men: for whose cause I will answer them, because I would be loath to leave such in any doubts, which might trouble and hinder them. But they who object thus, might more justly have alleged other reasons, why they think it so hard to keep any such daily direction: that is to say,1 partly their own ignorance, unacquaintedness with this course, & unablenesse: and partly the taunts, mocks and other discouragements, which profane and ungodly men would pursue them with, who should walk so unlike other men of §Ethe world, by the practising hereof. First therefore I will answer their doubt in that they think it impossible: and then their reasons why they think it cannot be without great inconvenience.2 If it were impossible to bring our selves to such a course, (for here is no perfection to be dreamed of by me,3 but an holy directing of our selves daily towards the kingdom of heaven) why would the prophet David have said: Blessed is the man that exerciseth himself and meditateth in Gods law day and night? Also why would he have ⟨p. 576⟩said it of himself,4 That all the day long he was considering it in his mind, that §Fis to say, meditating on it? It is manifest (whatsoever particular manner or order he used herein) that he did tie himself daily to this course, that is to say, to see that he walked homeward; that he might not be carried aside, or out of the way, either with the deceitful enticements of this world, or any discouragements: but much hath been said in the former treatises to this purpose.
These and such like obiections although they proceed from very euill men, and are vttered of them with a scoffing spirit; yet for want of knowledge and due consideration, they may be at the first, the thoughts of many simple well meaning men: for whose cause I will answere them, because I would be loath to leaue such in any doubts, which might trouble and hinder them. But they who obiect thus, might more iustly haue alledged other reasons, why they thinke it so hard to keepe any such daily direction: that is to say,