A10945:335
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.
So that as one in prison hardly dieted, feedeth with great appetite and greediness upon scraps and parings, and is well at ease if he may fill his belly with them;1 §Bwho yet when he is set at liberty, and conversant with his friends, where he findeth variety and plenty, cannot fall to his old fare again; but wondereth now, how he could find savour in every mans leavings: even so it is with him who hath besotted, and made drunken himself with the deceitful baits of sin, who if like a swine he may fill himself with that which his heart desireth, and his eye lusteth after, he is safe and hath what he would: but when he shall see his estate as in a glass, how shameful and dangerous it is, and hath but tasted of the heavenly privileges and liberties of a Christian, he casteth out that former draff as vomit, and by no means can be brought to be in love with it again. Behold such honour giveth God to his servants, §Cthat their old conversation wherein they lived sometimes with the rest of the world, and could by no means be drawn from it,2 they have it in most vile account and detestation, and they which were of the synagogue of Satan shall worship God among the faithful. This is the power of faith (which hath changed their heart) that it is able to make him, who hath it, to overcome, I say not, himself, but even the spiritual craftiness, whereby the devil deceiveth many thousands, and even the poisoned baits and allurements of the world also.
So that as one in prison hardly dieted, feedeth with great appetite and greedines vppon scrappes and parings, and is well at ease if he may fill his bellie with them;1 §Bwho yet when he is set at libertie, and conuersant with his friends, where hee findeth varietie and plentie, cannot fall to his old fare againe; but wondreth now, how he could finde sauour in euery mans leauings: euen so it is with him who hath besotted, and made drunken himselfe with the deceitfull baits of sinne, who if like a swine he may fill himselfe with that which his heart desireth, and his eye lusteth after, he is safe and hath what he would: but when he shall see his estate as in a glasse, how shamefull and daungerous it is, and hath but tasted of the heauenly priuiledges and liberties of a Christian, he casteth out that former draffe as vomite, and by no meanes can be brought to be in loue with it againe. Behold such honour giueth God to his seruants,