A10945:369
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.
Thus therefore now having laid open the pack of these worldly lusts,1 and proved that the Lord by the Scripture giveth greater grace to his, then to obey them, James 4.6. Rom. 6.16. I will proceed now to show, that this is a §Especial piece of christianity, thus to hold under, and resist them; so as in some sort, we may be made able to overcome them. No man will greatly deny this, if he be advised: for what should hinder one (if he be unburdened of his passions, and inordinate desires which bind him from duty as cords) but that he may go forward without let, readily, and roundly? This being always understood, that he is not without daily striving to obtain it, and closed about of infirmities still.2 It is the evil heart that causeth men to fall ⟨p. 110⟩away from the living God: 3they are their fleshly lusts which fight against their souls, §Fthat both hinder them from walking with God,4 and will bring destruction in the end: even these lusts, as S. James saith, which fight in our members, they are that carry us violently and foolishly after them from our settled peace, to fret and rage (as enemies in war, one against another) when we have not our desires satisfied, nor obtain what we would. Therefore these being weakened, and their force restrained, we may clearly see, that with ease and cheerfulness the Christian life shall be set upon: for as our Saviour Christ, because he was void of all corruption and sinful desires, therefore the prince of this world attempting him (as he doth other men) yet found nothing in him which he sought, fit for his purpose; and as Adam in the time of his innocency §G