A10945:399
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.
For we must remember, that they are compared to children,1 for that they should daily grow out of childishness; and not look, as it were, to be always set on the lap. Which wisdom God giveth, teaching even his weak ones to know themselves better from day to day: and to look to bear some crosses (which God sendeth for the exercising of their faith and patience) because he their father doth see it meetest for them to have it so; and to prepare them for greater by little and little: And as children grow to leave childishness, so they should begin to mislike such faults as they espy in themselves, and not to think, that they should be from time to time borne with and winked at in §Ethem.2 Therefore our Saviour compareth the estate of his Church and people in the first age and beginning of it, to a grain of mustard seed, which being once rooted, how small soever it be, groweth forward from appearing above the ground, to be a blade, and so to branch: Teaching his thereby, that they should so look to go from one degree to another, that though they did not know what was to be done of them in this their christian course, when they first entered into it: yet now after they have been trained up in it for a ⟨p. 122⟩season, and have tasted of the promise of life, they should hasten thither, thorough §Fall lets which might hinder them; and purge out, as they come to espy them, many unbeseeming qualities and customs, as excrements. And seeing their happiness is not here below, therefore they may not dream of any such thing, that is, to have their heaven here: nor for their professions sake look, that the ignorant and wicked world should commend and esteem of them; but contrarily:3 yea, perhaps of their own flesh to be despised and hated for it.
For we must remember, that they are compared to children,1 for that they should daily growe out of childishnes; and not looke, as it were, to be alwaies set on the lap. Which wisdome God giueth, teaching euen his weake ones to know themselues better from day to day: and to looke to beare some crosses (which God sendeth for the exercising of their faith and patience) because he their father doth see it meetest for them to haue it so; and to prepare them for greater by little and little: And as children growe to leaue childishnes, so they should begin to mislike such faults as they espie in themselues, and not to thinke, that they should be from time to time borne with and winked at in