A10945:214
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.
yet principally and most chiefly, I have done it, for the upholding & comfort of Gods weak servants, who may see him most loving and gracious unto them even in that, I mean their abasement and humiliation: which they sometime thought to be their utter and ⟨p. 51⟩§Aextreme misery. And thus much of the second point of the second part or general head: namely, of the staying of the weak Christians, and how they differ from unbelievers.
yet principally and most chiefly, I haue done it, for the vpholding & comfort of Gods weake seruants, who may see him most louing and gracious vnto them euen in that, I meane their abasement and humiliation: which they sometime thought to be their vtter and ⟨p. 51⟩§Aextreame miserie. And thus much of the second point of the second part or generall head: namely, of the staying of the weake Christians, and how they differ from vnbeleeuers.
Thus I have, not as I would, but as I could,1 set down my meditations upon this first point, to show, who are the true people of God, and given occasion to many, who have little to say for themselves, why they should claim any right or title in that great purchase, to consider of their estate more deeply and seriously then they have done. If these, who are almost Christians, and (as I may say) not far from eternal life, being many of them usual hearers of Sermons, would inquire about their estate, till they should §Bsee it good, as I am sure the other may be well stayed by this which I have written, I should not be a little comforted, whom for their good (which I heartily desire and pray for) this I beseech to hear me in. What wisdom shall they show, to be careless in so weighty a matter as this is, concerning their salvation, and that their care in matters transitory can never be enough? or what sound comfort do they look for, whiles they rest but in uncertainties about the assurance thereof, which yet to miss and go without, is their utter and perpetual desolation? But they hope they are in good case, and persuade themselves that they are in the estate of grace. I am far from envying it them: I would to God that I could hope so too.