A10945:1975
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.
Some say, they like it well, and would with all their hearts that they could practise this direction, but they have so many lets to hold them off and cut them from it, that they do not see, how they shall in any mean sort perform the duties through the day, required in it. But such are to know,1 that the chiefest lets of all from a godly life (which be, the intemperance of the mind, and unbridled lusts thereof) are by this direction best remedied and stayed: the most of other which are outward in the world (as provocations, temptations, and other like occasions) are hereby also, and by the well ordering of the affections prevented and avoided, or the easilier borne.2 And as §Bfor the third kind, which are, mens callings, dealings, labours, which (through ignorance) many do mean when they complain of hinderances; are none at all, but as they are made by the unskilfulness, carelessness or other sin of the party which ill useth them. And to this purpose I will tell thee what I have heard a man of good account and long experience say: I never had such lets, as far as I can call to remembrance, but if my heart had been held in good government, I might have served God with peace, and gone forward in the course which I propounded. Which what differeth it from that in the Proverbs: Keep thine heart with all diligence, 3for from thence cometh life? So that ye see the chief hinderances are unfaithfulness, hardness §Cof heart, frowardness, licentiousness, and such like evil distemperatures of the heart: by means whereof, outward occasions of sinning do the easilier provoke us; and our lawfullest actions which we go about, come untowardly to pass.
Some say, they like it well, and would with all their hearts that they could practise this direction, but they haue so many lets to holde them off and cut them from it, that they doe not see, how they shall in anie meane sort performe the duties through the day, required in it. But such are to know,1