A10945:268
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.
This spirit of bondage therefore, which holdeth them oft in fear, I earnestly wish were abandoned: and that this wavering and needles doubting, which possesseth so great part of their life (especially when any great affliction arresteth them, or lieth long upon them) were as far from them, as the East is from the West: so that they might see the abundant favour of God far greater towards them, then ever they did: and that by how much they §Kmay enjoy it more usually, then ever they thought it possible. And as for them that count their advice and direction for the preserving of faith, they shall go without the fruit of it; till they see that they lost not their labour, who were thought to do too much, seeing they did more then themselves could be persuaded to do. Therefore (as I have said) let all such, as to whom God hath sealed up their salvation by his spirit, by the which he hath given ⟨p. 71⟩§Athem an earnest of it, be diligent to hear and mark the promises daily: so shall they wax familiar, and well acquainted with the mind and purpose of God, howsoever the profane worldlings make them common things, and are soon weary of hearing them. Let them weigh them also, and apply them to their own souls daily by private meditation: let them learn of other the faithful servants of God, how they do most especially preserve their faith. And let them be throughly persuaded, that how crossly soever things come to pass, yet the Lord seeketh their good by them, and doth not delight in their sorrow and troubles: for if he did, he could a thousand ways make a riddance of them, but sendeth them specially for their benefit and good; so §Bshall they grow rooted, and established in their faith, as the grain of Mustard seed, which after rooting becometh a stalk,1 and hath branches and boughs: and as that groweth, so shall sound peace and safety, and strength against their corruptions; yea and these means whereby it is preserved, how wearisome soever they have been sometime, shall become easy and pleasant, and from time to time more and more, so that they may be assured that they have cause in all things to be thankful. 2