A10945:255
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.
1And to this purpose they are also to help their weakness in faith, by ordinary §Kand reverent hearing the glad tidings of reconciliation publicly preached unto them: for that is one special end thereof, as the Apostle saith; and therefore are the Sacraments also given by God, which seal up this truth in their hearts, which they have begun to taste of: Do this as oft as ye do it, in remembrance of me. With these two they must carefully retain a viewing of their sins,2 which by examination they have found out: They must, I say, be ⟨p. 67⟩§Adaily kept within that compass, and keep under their hearts,3 by a mean and base thinking of themselves from fullness and loathing of Christs death, as it is made too common a reckoning of. Neither can it be felt sweet and pleasant of any, except their sins be felt bitter and tart. And besides all this, their former experience is not the least help to establish and settle them in this persuasion: that for as much as they cannot deny,4 but that they have believed with joy, and received much ease to their heavy hearts thereby: therefore much more now they ought, and lawfully may rest and persuade themselves so again. And therefore to say with themselves,5 it is but their own weakness, when they are pierced thorough with such doubts: from God there is §Bnot the least occasion offered, who is ever one and changeth not: 6for all this might they have with Gods good liking; and worse estate then this they need not to be in, if they would be advised by him, and not by the evil custom of their hearts, whereby they are easily brought to think, that faith and other graces will dwell in them, though they be slightly cared for, and regarded: which conceit is most false and erroneous.