A10945:287
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 so I might go forward to convince many of our countrymen, who have often heard me, and other of Gods Ministers urging them after the same manner, in our Sermons: and do know, I tell them the truth, that such §Cthings are in them indeed, who yet seem to be religious. I have said it oft, and now say it with grief, that all these, who have such things reigning in them, are not only their own enemies, but also to our preaching of the Gospel of Christ: neither is their rejoicing good, who glory in their faith and hope, when yet they are thus earthly and carnally minded.
And so I might goe forward to conuince many of our countrimen, who haue often heard me, and other of Gods Ministers vrging them after the same manner, in our Sermons: and doe know, I tell them the truth, that such §Cthings are in them indeed, who yet seeme to be religious. I haue said it oft, and now say it with griefe, that all these, who haue such things raigning in them, are not onely their owne enemies, but also to our preaching of the Gospell of Christ: neither is their reioycing good, who glorie in their faith and hope, when yet they are thus earthly and carnally minded.
They must know it (howsoever they believe) that God hath joined with faith, virtue, and godliness, patience, temperance; and that who so believeth, is thereby turned from his old conversation. For mine own part,1 I have long misliked this haste, and sudden shows of great repentance in men, who in their first acquaintance with the word preached to them, have not only professed §Dthat they have repented (when besides some gripes of grief, they have not known what repentance meaneth) but they have thought themselves able almost on the sudden to censure, yea to condemn other, and teach them; and so although with boldness enough joined with as much ignorance, they have taken in hand to do. I speak not of such as are humbled in their hearts for their sin, who desire nothing more then to be set at liberty from the fear which oppresseth them, learning daily to believe, and to be grounded therein; who dare no otherwise believe their sins forgiven them, then they walk humbly before God and men: but of such as pass from sorrow for sin without faith, to newness of life, as they imagine,