A10945:252
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.
And that they may do this the better (which is too slackly performed of many,1 who yet have felt some sweetness in the promises) they are further to be directed, that daily and oft, (which few will be brought unto) they send up strong prayers to God for it, and that they do of set purpose separate themselves from all other things in the most convenient manner, that they can, to call to remembrance the manifold and gracious promises of God: §Dthat they meditate and consider deeply of them; of the nature and truth of them; of the unchangeableness and perpetuity of them;2 how loving also and kind God is: that thus their faith may be confirmed in them: and so bring their hearts by little and little to a new course and custom, that they may have more near acquaintance with Gods nature, his mind and purpose towards them: how lovingly he is affected to them: how little they need to fear his anger and displeasure: and how free they may be from doubting and wavering. For it must be well considered and oft thought upon, that weak believers, who are privy to themselves of their many doubtings, do soon let slip out of their memory, and so out of their hearts, such grounds of their §Efaith, as they have sometime holden and embraced, after hearing publicly, or any such like means enjoyed of them: they do soon (I say) let them slip,3 unless they can bring themselves to review and call them to mind usually: Yea, and further; unless they do provide to help their feebleness of heart and memory (as they shall be able) with some pithy and clear proves of their salvation and safety; such as they have before rested on, and found comfort by: as this, Come to me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will ease you: 4and let them ⟨p. 66⟩reason thus from it: If Christ call them that are laden, and promiseth to ease §Fthem, and therefore they may come boldly, that is, believe his promise, and clasp about it, and enjoy it as their own: then may I, being such an one, do so, and take it as spoken to me, as well as Peter, Paul, or any other. Thus should the weak apply it.