A10945:41
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.
Now it remaineth further to acquaint the reader with the order,1 which I use in the same, and to give some instructions, that he may read it with the more profit; and that it may be more plain and easy to understand (which I do especially intend) then otherwise it should be. First, therefore, because I have written it for their sakes chiefly, which are truly called to be Gods Children, and have an interest in his promises, as being converted to him from the subjection of the devil: first I say,2 my purpose is in the foremost treatise to show, who are his, and who they are which in an holy, and humble manner may rest satisfied in his promises, against all dreadful fear and doubt which might disquiet them: that so neither the loose livers may deceive themselves with an opinion of that, which belongeth not to them: nor Gods children be deprived of that,3 which is their own, and the ignorant of both sorts that list, may learn to know better and amend their estate. In the second, I mean to show,4 what course of life such persons must walk in, throughout their days, and how they are to carry themselves both towards God and men, which I think expedient to lay forth as clearly as I can, and in some ample manner for ⟨image 9⟩the more full satisfying of the ignorant sort. From these two, all the other points handled in this book do arise.5 Therefore in the third, I will show what are the means whereby this life may be maintained, and how the believer shall use the same, to the end that this whole and great work of worshipping & serving God, may not be taken for a bare matter of knowledge, as the most do make it: or (which is little better) for a serving of God by halves, as too many professors of the Gospel do use it: but for a faithful regarding of our ways, that they may be shaped out after Gods will.
Now it remaineth further to acquaint the reader with the order,