A10945:243
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.
The 2. cause, why I say, that we should not contemn life, and other lawful liberties, is, because upon this principle falsely grounded, and as falsely understood (that we should forsake the world) divers have troubled many weak people & abused them; saying and teaching (and that under a great pretence of godliness) that when we begin to be devout, and to savour of religion, we ought to leave the world: that is to say, depart from our earthly callings, and dealings, and also from the society and fellowship of men who are occupied therein. And to the end that greater devotion and piety may be bred in us,1 §Ewe are (say they) to go aside into Abbeys, Friaries, Hermitages, and Cloisters, where we may neither hear nor see any such dealings. And as the opinion is plausible to the ignorant and unstable, though palpable to them that are stayed in judgement: so it hath deceived many,2 and the devil hath showed himself as an angel of light in persuading, that such a kind of life is the highest degree of holiness, although it hath been and easily may be proved to be the den and depth of abomination.
The 2. cause, why I say, that we should not contemne life, and other lawful liberties, is, because vpon this principle falsely grounded, and as falsly vnderstood (that wee should forsake the world) diuers haue troubled many weake people & abused them; saying and teaching (and that vnder a great pretence of godlines) that when we begin to be deuout, and to sauour of religion, wee ought to leaue the world: that is to say, depart from our earthly callings, and dealings, and also from the societie and fellowship of men who are occupied therein. And to the end that greater deuotion and pietie may be bred in vs,1 §Ewe are (say they) to goe aside into Abbeyes, Frieries, Armetages, and Cloysters, where we may neither heare nor see any such dealings. And as the opinion is plausible to the ignorant and vnstable, though palpable to them that are staied in iudgement: so it hath deceiued many,2