A10945:203
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.
1Oh, how many have after the report made by others, what great change the Gospel had wrought; how many, I say, have resorted to the hearing of it, and given good and commendable hope of their own change also, and repentance; who yet were soon weary of the Lords yoke, and of being subject to his holy government? how many have forsaken the fountains of the water §Gof life, 2which could have refreshed their souls in their necessity with sound comfort, and have digged to themselves broken pits, which can hold no water to comfort them? And so have started aside, like a broken bow, and have returned shamefully to their vomit, 3and as the sow which was washed, to wallow again in the mire? Which I speak not, as though God had not both called out of this life many amongst us (within these years in her Majesties reign) of singular hope, and left a comfortable company amongst us still, with others daily coming on;4 but to cast their shame as dung in their faces, who have fallen from that fervent desire of the sincere milk of the word (which once they had) to the world,5 to profaneness, and to carelessness. These (as the Scripture §Hsaith of Judas) went out from us, but they were none of us: for if they had been of us, they would have continued still with us. For when either prosperity hath been granted them,6 they have waxen wanton, and have turned the grace of God into looseness: 7or when affliction hath followed them, they have grown weary of their profession, saying as we read in Eccles. 7.12. That the former days were better, and wished again for the merry world, which they enjoyed, and the pleasant life (as the Israelites did their flesh pots) which they passed in ignorance of God,