A10945:398
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.
The second danger is, least when they be void of this comfort,1 they fall into heavy dumps, distrustfulness, and fear that all was but a shadow, and a dream: from hence may arise despair for a time; and after, a sleepy and secure conscience, as fearing that the Lord will no more restore to them the grace that they were wont in him to find. Here the devil showeth himself as a roaring Lyon. But before experience teach how to deal herein, counsel and help of other, who are able to minister it, with calling upon God, (as well as ordinary hearing of Sermons) is chiefly (when they are so weak, that they cannot help themselves) to be sought for, and regarded. And the rather, for that their childishness doth require the same: For many follies,2 §Cweaknesses, gross ignorance are in the most of them, and many deceivings of themselves, many phantasies, and oversights are carried about of them: yea, and these not only long lien in, if they be troubled with melancholy, and not teachable, following carefully the light which God revealeth to them; but also the lusts which ruled them before, will hardly be mastered, but keep their hold, and abide in great strength to their disgrace and discouragement: especially when after that they have a while joyed in their salvation, they afterwards not well knowing how to occupy themselves, shall wax idle and unprofitable, and so grow to their old course again, when they cannot get into a better, which Satan doth mightily labour to bring §Dthem to.
The second danger is, least when they be voide of this comfort,1 they fall into heauie dumpes, distrustfulnes, and feare that all was but a shadow, and a dreame: from hence may arise despaire for a time; and after, a sleepie and secure conscience, as fearing that the Lord will no more restore to them the grace that they were wont in him to finde. Here the diuell sheweth himselfe as a roring Lyon. But before experience teach how to deale herein, counsell and helpe of other, who are able to minister it, with calling vpon God, (as well as ordinarie hearing of Sermons) is chiefelie (when they are so weake, that they cannot helpe themselues) to be sought for, and regarded. And the rather, for that their childishnes doth require the same: For many follies,