A10945:1973
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.
1And before he be throughly acquainted with the practise of this, let him impart his doubts to such as may most conveniently satisfy him in the same, and so commend himself to the grace of God in this new enterprise, betaking himself utterly from his former wandering and uncertain serving of God:2 and let him after a week, and so after a month, take view of his doings, to see what is amiss, and what is wanting, that it may be helped: if any §Gslothful deferring or omitting of any necessary part of duty hath been, that it may be restored: if any blessing be seen thereby, that it may be increased by procuring the continuance of it. And when he shall have had experience of good success therein, he shall be past the danger or discouragement which Ishmaels progeny (I mean the generation of scorners and mockers) may raise unto him. For as infinite swarms of vain and hurtful thoughts do occupy and fill the minds of such as have not earnestly set themselves against them: so through Gods grace, after they have accustomed themselves to better cogitations, and weaned themselves of purpose from their old conversation, they shall find occasions enough to honour God,§H in doing one good duty or other; so that, they shall neither need to be idle nor unprofitable. Which thing if many were persuaded of, they would both taste and try it; which now they do not, because (as they say) if they should not suffer their hearts to wander and rove every where as they are carried, but restrain them, they know not how they could live.
1And before he be throughly acquainted with the practise of this, let him impart his doubts to such as may most conueniently satisfie him in the same, and so commend himselfe to the grace of God in this new enterprise, betaking himselfe vtterly from his former wandring and vncertaine seruing of God:2 and let him after a weeke, and so after a moneth, take view of his doings, to see what is amisse, and what is wanting, that it may be helped: if anie §G