A10945:1997
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 yet this is no small benefit,1 (whatsoever others have done) that a man which desireth to please God, may know how to behave himself in this pilgrimage §Eboth towards God and men: how to proceed when he hath begun: how to comfort himself when he is heavy: how to raise up himself, when he is fallen: how to return when he hath gone out of the way: which (through Gods blessing) with many such fruits, he may find here, and enjoy daily to his comfort: I say, here; (yet without any arrogancy) because though many good things may be reaped of many worthy mens labours, yet they have not driven at this one particular, Of daily directing a Christian, as I have done. ⟨p. 592⟩And this for the satisfying of thy demand concerning the practise of this §Fdoctrine: and therefore fear not thou, that the Lord will leave thee in the middle way, when he hath blessed thee in the beginning thereof, if thou withdrawest not thy self from his government; but he will show himself far more gracious to thee, according to the prayer which David made in faith to him,2 and obtained the fruit of it: O Lord thou hast been my hope ever since my youth: Cast me not away in the time of mine old age: when my strength shall fail, leave me not. And as this holy man of God (we see) distrusted his own weakness, yet through his long experience of Gods favour and kindness, conceived assured hope thereof unto his end: so the best of us might justly §Gfear (knowing the malice and subtlety of our enemy, besides our own exceeding frailties) that we should never be brought in safety to our end; and cry out daily against the unlikelihoods of continuance, which we see both in our own lives,3 and other mens. But above all these, either temptations & afflictions, or the doubts & fears which come thereby, our faith carrieth us to see into Gods mind and purpose, and to wait through patience for the accomplishing of his promises,