A10945:35
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.
But of Master Parsons book of Resolution, seeing he and some other have set it out in a glossing stile to insinuate with the ignorant and unlearned reader, that he seeks no other thing but to draw him to piety and godliness, I cannot forbear, but I must say a little, which otherwise I would not have done. And the rather, for that I know, he hath snared many simple peoples consciences thereby, who being themselves willing to be led in a right way, believe that he means as he speaketh; and therefore are left, I say, deceived, and in a bottomless gulf; out of the which, if God help them not some other way, it is not possible for them to get. And this I say first, for the delivering of such out of the snare and maze in which ⟨image 7⟩they have lost themselves by reading of that book, that although there be a pretended show of godliness in it, and much superstition; yet the best of it is far from true piety and godliness, seeing that, and every part of it proceedeth from faith joined with assurance of Gods favour,1 which is that alone that purifieth the heart, and maketh it able to bring fourth fruits of amendment of life; without which, mens best actions are wrought by the strength of corrupt nature, and are fruits of the flesh, and works of darkness, and so abominable. And yet this faith do Papists make no reckoning of, neither therefore can the book of Resolution teach or hold it.
But of Maister Parsons booke of Resolution, seeing he and some other haue set it out in a glosing stile to insinuate with the ignorant and vnlearned reader, that he seekes no other thing but to draw him to pietie and godlines, I cannot forbeare, but I must say a little, which otherwise I would not haue done. And the rather, for that I know, he hath snared many simple peoples consciences thereby, who being themselues willing to be led in a right way, beleeue that he meanes as he speaketh; and therefore are left, I say, deceiued, and in a bottomles gulfe; out of the which, if God helpe them not some other way, it is not possible for them to get. And this I say first, for the deliuering of such out of the snare and maze in which ⟨image 7⟩they haue lost themselues by reading of that booke, that although there be a pretended shew of godlines in it, and much superstition; yet the best of it is farre from true pietie and godlines, seeing that, and euery part of it proceedeth from faith ioyned with assurance of Gods fauour,