A10945:407
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.
1For doctrine first, that of S. Peter doth plainly show it, where he saith, If a man after he hath professed a Christian course by acknowledging the forgiveness of his sin, and the hope of everlasting life, shall yet be entangled again in his old sins, and overcome of them, the latter end of that man is worse then the beginning: for it had §Ibeen better never to have acknowledged the way of righteousness, then afterwards to turn from the commandments given unto him: And they that do so, are most fitly compared to dogs which return to their vomit, and to swine which having been washed, 2do wallow again in the mire. S. James also is bold to say, that if the tongue only be unbridled (be the rest of the life reformed how it can) even that one disorder in a man professing the Gospel, shall be enough to testify against him, that his religion is nothing worth, but vain. If his religion be in vain, he can neither have any part in salvation, nor in a godly life: How can we which are dead to sin (saith the Apostle) live any longer therein? 3The reason is, seeing they which are dead to sin, are so made partakers of the power,§K virtue and grace of Christ, that natural corruption hath lost here force to bring forth bitter fruits. So that neither men can profess religion without casting away their old behaviour, but they must be dissemblers▪ neither can they be truly godly, but they must endeavour to walk free from offensive evils (this always provided, that these offensive evils be such, as are known of the parties to be sins.)
1For doctrine first, that of S. Peter doth plainly shew it, where he saith, If a man after he hath professed a Christian course by acknowledging the forgiuenes of his sinne, and the hope of euerlasting life, shall yet be intangled againe in his old sinnes, and ouercome of them, the latter end of that man is worse then the beginning: for it had §Ibeen better neuer to haue acknowledged the way of righteousnes, then afterwards to turne from the commaundements giuen vnto him: And they that do so, are most fitly compared to dogges which returne to their vomite, and to swine which hauing been washed,