A10945:320
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.
For we being not yet assured of the happiness of heaven,1 do know no better delights, then our blind and deceitful hearts do dream of here on earth. The which though we see by experience, that they are short and momentany (seeing they who have greatest part in them, cannot keep them long) yet we, who have least part in them, will never forgo the love of them, until we see how we may certainly enjoy better (which may clearly be seen in the poorer sort of people destitute of grace, that although they have no wealth, yet it doth their hearts good to talk of it, in token that it is the thing which they love best of all). And hereof it is, that many thousands, through ignorance, pass their time in sport, play, pastime and pleasure: accounting that §Dthe only life that is to be wished, to live deliciously for a season. Others,2 in quarrelling, contention, murmuring, debate, suites, and accusing of their neighbours: The most tolerable, and honest course seemeth to be the spending of mens years, in, and about the worldly goods. And thus are men occupied, although one sort diversly from another, yet all to be pitied, seeing they walk amiss: I speak of such as know no better. Notwithstanding, no one of these can be brought to mislike his course, or to turn his hart and delight from it, until he be assured of a far better portion. No, although we bring tidings hereof unto them, so as they believe that it is true, and have great liking of the same: yet, till they see that it may be their own, they will §Enot so much as go about the dispossessing of such unsavoury and fond lusts from their hearts.3 But when they believe that God is a plentiful rewarder of all that seek him, and that they who were once no people, are now freely made his people, and beloved of him, which were sometime not beloved: then their hearts turn, and ask after him: then they desire to know more of his will and mind: and repent that they were so ignorant before, and that so long time; and that they drunk up the draff of unsavoury puddles, even deceitful pleasures, when ⟨p. 92⟩