A10945:216
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.
But what evidence or proof have they of it? They can answer, none, but this, that they profess Christ, and love the Gospel, and contemn Popery. They hear Sermons oft, and think not well of them who do not so. Some of the forwarder sort, do think verily sometime, that they believe, and joy therein, and sometime weep at a Sermon: but this is their anchor that they hold themselves by, long after: when they be able to speak of such times and actions done in them. But when they have been at the best, have they then put forth themselves a little further, to demand: are these things sufficient marks and testimonies of our salvation? or if they be not, do they inquire what be? And do they not cease trying their state, till they can prove §Dit to be good indeed? and until they find rest to their souls that cannot deceive them? Nay rather, they come not to this at all, that they can apply Christ to them: that study is utterly unwelcome to them and unsavoury. They can do any thing but that: and why so? Verily, even to the end they may be deceived: as men that have matter at law, and are in suit, boast much of their case, but yet are very loath to come to trial of it: and why are they afraid so to do, but for that they know they have no good evidence to show for it?
But what euidence or proofe haue they of it? They can answere, none, but this, that they professe Christ, and loue the Gospell, and contemne Poperie. They heare Sermons oft, and thinke not well of them who doe not so. Some of the forwarder sort, doe thinke verely sometime, that they beleeue, and ioy therein, and sometime weepe at a Sermon: but this is their anchor that they hold themselues by, long after: when they be able to speake of such times and actions done in them. But when they haue been at the best, haue they then put foorth themselues a little further, to demaund: are these things sufficient markes and testimonies of our saluation? or if they be not, do they inquire what be? And do they not cease trying their state, till they can proue §Dit to be good indeed? and vntill they finde rest to their soules that cannot deceiue them? Nay rather, they come not to this at all, that they can applie Christ to them: that studie is vtterly vnwelcome to them and vnsauourie. They can doe any thing but that: and why so? Verely, euen to the end they may be deceiued: as men that haue matter at law, and are in sute, boast much of their case, but yet are very loath to come to triall of it: and why are they afraid so to doe, but for that they know they haue no good euidence to shew for it?