A10945:2009
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.
Now I have spoken to the Godly, I turn to the other, who either have only a false persuasion of their salvation; or else, confess that they have no knowledge what shall become of them after this life. Both sorts are earnestly to be desired, to consider in what fearful estate they be, who having not made so much as a beginning in the practise of a godly life (for so it may truly be §Dsaid, if they have not true and unfeigned faith) are far off from this daily walking with God, which I have showed to be required by him of all his faithful servants. They are also to weigh, how they can answer this saying of the Lord Jesus: Except ye repent, ye shall all perish: And that of Saint Peter: If the righteous be scarcely saved, where shall the wicked & ungodly appear? For besides that their estate shall be in the world to come, easeless and remediless, what is it that they desire here, for the which they can be content to debar themselves of the blessed immortality of the soul, and the glorious resurrection of the body, and to go to the place of torment? do they not see the slippery and uncertain condition of all things here below? and that they cannot promise §Ethemselves continuance in one estate till the next morning? and that they are (whatsoever they imagine) without God in the world, the vilest of all creatures, the most cursed, except the devils, and yet devils incarnate themselves? And if they think they may repent when they will, (beside that late repentance is dangerous, if they might attain to it) do they not see, that they shut up the way thereto from themselves, whiles they may hear the lord speaking thus to them: Because when I called upon you, ye would not hear, you shall ⟨p. 598⟩cry your selves, and I will not hear saith the Lord? And if they should persuade §Fthemselves, that their sins are not so great: what is more ridiculous? And what should I say more? For if it were but the depriving themselves of the infinite good things which are to be enjoyed even in this life, they are worthily to be reproved and challenged by that speech of Solomon,1 O ye fools, how long will ye love foolishness, and ye scorners delight in scorning, and ye unwise hate wisdom?