A10945:390
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.
1The second sort is compared to young men, who then are in their strength, rather then when they are either children, or old men: so some of Gods servants are as yet neither experienced nor throughly acquainted in the Christian battle as the fathers, nor utterly ignorant of it, as the new borne Christians: these are especially occupied in fighting against temptations, and resisting and overcoming their unruly desires, which hale and draw them after §Gthe same. Therefore, as they who are young men in age, and in their lusty years, are commonly of this middle sort of Christians (if they be truly religious:2) so S. John writing to them, doth show them what is their chief and principal work: that is, to resist the devil, and his strong assaults, which in them, lusty and strong, are not easily subdued: and persuadeth them to this combat, not only by telling them what a glorious victory it shall be to them to vanquish such an enemy; but also that they may be sure of it, as if they had got it already. These knowing by the light of the Scriptures and the Commandments, how corrupt their hearts are, and how many sinful thoughts and desires do swarm in them, they watch their hearts; whereas §Hbefore they knew of any danger, they little looked after them: they pray against them now, often, and earnestly: they have some fear in company, and alone by themselves (which is no part of evil mens thought) least they should be overcome by any such affections, as they are in danger of, and yet they are oft overcome. They do also oft times consider how they may avoid the occasions of sin, least thereby they should be enticed and so disquieted in their minds, and break out to the offence of their brethren, and the reproach of their profession among the bad: anger, impatience, frowardness, fretting,3 sensible desiring of their neighbours goods, as wife, servant, or such like, which in times past were common matters with them, and their delight,§I their hearts have now such smart and wound for the same, that they grow to beware of them, weary of them, ashamed to think that such vices should be found in them: and count it no needless nor lost labour to have their care thus set on work, that they may avoid them.