A10945:395
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.
1Now the third sort of the people of God, are compared to little children: of the which, some are as it were in the birth: of whom the Apostle speaketh, Gal. 4.19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again, till Christ be formed in you: who, though they as yet know it not, are dear to God, and have sure tokens of it, as I have showed in the first treatise: and they have many properties of the other young ones, which are of this third sort. The other be such as are young, and hang upon the breast, that as such grow to know the father and mother, when as yet they know nothing else; cry after them, and desire the breast, whereby they are nourished, and joy and take their pleasure in these: even so it fareth with this third sort of Gods elect, if they be well §Hgrounded in the truth, and have rightly been taught, how weak soever they be,2 except in temptation. For they (as the Apostle saith) know the father: such light and understanding they have of the Gospel, that though they know not how to serve him; yet they know that his favour is all in all to them: in so much, as if some of them have not full certainty that he is tenderly affected towards them, they so long after it, that nothing can satisfy them without it: About which their thoughts are chiefly occupied, and in the which their delight is, after they know what it is worth; and in the means of their spiritual nourishment, which is the word of God; and not least of all in this, that they may not in the least thing offend or displease God. This Saint Peter §Isetteth forth by the same similitude of young children, when he teacheth young Christians, how they must look to grow up in their spiritual life; Desire (saith he) that sincere milk of the word, 3that ye may grow thereby.
1Now the third sort of the people of God, are compared to little children: of the which, some are as it were in the birth: of whom the Apostle speaketh,