A10945:360
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.
I will proceed unto that kind of lust which is the greedy desire of money and gain,1 if they may come by it, whosoever smarteth by the loss of it. What a sea of evils is there in this kind? how many ways, and that all the year through, are mens heads occupied about this, how they may by some new deceit, wind somewhat from others? what unsatiable desire is there of other mens goods? and how do men resolve that they will be rich, though the Apostle to Timothy doth show them the danger of that purpose?2 What repining is there in all sorts to see others get that which they themselves can not come by? How doth the mighty devise to pill and make bare the meaner sort, the Landlord the poor tenant, till he hath fleeced him of all, and §Ileft the bare carcass? whereas the predecessors of them both lived together before them in love and good will, the one well contented, the other well refreshed under him and sufficiently maintained? which is one main cause of so great beggary. How do many, without regard of other, follow this point of wisdom, that they may have some commodities wholly in their own hands, that so they may raise an universal dearth for the satisfying of their private appetite? In common dealings, nothing (to speak of) is sweet to men,3 but stolen waters, as it is in the Proverbs, when men can see how to get more then their own: the borrower (though he hath found friendship) yet seeketh & bethinketh how to defraud the lender, if by any means §Khe might pay it back no more: so doth the lender devise new kinds of usury and oppression against the borrower, whereby so many thousands are undone:4 when the Lord commandeth strictly that there be no oppression nor usury at all: So of the seller, and the buyer; the love of equity and indifferency is thrust to the walls amongst men, if it stand not with their gain.
I will proceed vnto that kind of lust which is the greedie desire of money and gaine,