A10945:225
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.
1This true believer therefore whosoever he be: first, as soon as he shall perceive that God (far otherwise then he looked for) hath given him his son to bring life unto him, and to be his wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, he must needs feel in his heart great joy and comfort, as we see in the example of the Eunuch, when Philip had converted him, he went away rejoicing, Acts 8.39. and in Samaria, where when he had preached Christ §Kthere, and had brought them to repentance, there was great joy in the City, Acts 8.8. And what marvel? for how can a man be persuaded by good and infallible grounds, that greater happiness is given him of God then all the world is worth,2 but he must needs rejoice with joy unspeakable, as they which dream? For is there any natural man so senseless, that if he should understand that some portion of goods, as an hundred pounds value by the ⟨p. 55⟩§Ayear, were befallen him; yet he should not feel his heart made joyful thereat? and can this honour befall any (that he is highly in favour with the Lord of heaven and earth, and thereby of a child of wrath, made heir of heaven for ever) but it must needs glad his heart exceedingly, and raise sensible joy in him, which cannot be expressed? as in him who found the pearl. 3But do common professors thus, or worldlings? when they manifestly bewray that they are glutted with the tidings of it? So that, as the Eunuch before mentioned, immediately after he had been instructed in this mystery of faith, went on his way rejoicing;4 and as Paul soon after his conversion was marvellously comforted, although before as far from it, and as deeply cast down as any: §Bso let it not be doubted of, but when God hath once enlightened the heart of any (which before sate in darkness) to see himself undoubtedly saved, but that it raiseth up in him joy unspeakable, and glorious in his measure.