A10945:222
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.
CHAP. 10. Of the eight companions of Faith.
CHAP. 10. Of the eyght companions of Faith.
Now I have spoken of those, who are weakest in faith, and have the smallest measure of it, and have laboured to stay them in their temptation: I have also showed the causes of their conversion, the love of God the father in giving his son: the love of the son in reconciling them to God, and delivering them from all their misery: the word of promise §Gpreached to bring them tidings of this: Gods spirit, assuring them by working faith in them, and persuasion thereof: (and to this end I have set down these, because in the ordinary coming to eternal life, there is no other way:) yet seeing these are not so easily felt of us, as they are sure and infallible grounds in themselves, to us of salvation: therefore I will add some other effects, or rather properties of true faith, which do accompany the assurance of the love of God, and of Christ Jesus in us, and are the works, or fruits of the holy Ghost by the Gospel, which, although they be not of like authority with the former; yet are they easilier felt to be in us. So that both sorts of evidences laid together, and meeting and concurring in one §Hand the same person, shall give him most clearly to understand, that as God hath graciously bestowed it; so we may effectually receive and hold it as our own: and that with more certainty every day, as our salvation shall every day be nearer, then when we first believed. And thus I come unto the third general part of this treatise; wherein (seeing I hope the weakest believers are or may be somewhat stayed by that which I have said already) I now purpose in this last part, to show how all such of Gods people, as are stayed from strong fear & trouble of mind; may by other clear evidences, have further proof and trial of their faith, and be able to preserve and confirm it, and how much such an estate is to be desired for the benefit it bringeth. And first, to §Iteach the believer to try that he hath this excellent gift of faith, these eight graces being companions of it, and more easily perceived and discerned, then faith it self, will clearly testify that where these be, there shall that be found also.