A10945:449
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.
And this may be, yea and no doubt is,1 the estate of the many of Gods servants: such especially, as for want of good experience, and acquaintance in the Christian life, and battle, are more easily deceived, and beguiled then others are. And hereof it is, that many have been overtaken, and oft do slide, and fall dangerously, and are carried from keeping a good conscience, and from well doing: And divers commit those sins which they had long abstained from, hoping that they should never have fallen into them any more: But what then?2 Are they therefore like to the sundry sorts of the former wicked ones, of whom I spake before? No, nothing less: for either they are §Bwary and watchful against them, before hand, least they should fall; and it is their greatest care, that they may not fall into them: or when they see how they have been overcome, and deceived, they lay it to heart by and by,3 bewail it, and are much humbled to see how they have been circumvented, and cannot be quiet, whiles they seeing God offended, are not reconciled to him again. And on the contrary, if they prevail over their sins, and hold under their affections, and keep their consciences excusing them, that so they may walk with God and abide in his favour;4 then are they more joyful then they, who have all that their hearts can wish.5 And although all have not the like knowledge, how to do and go about it; yet it is the earnest §Cdesire of their heart to have it so: In token whereof, even the weakest which are new borne, are heavy and cannot be comforted, for that they see continually how they have displeased God.
And this may be, yea and no doubt is,1 the estate of the many of Gods seruants: such especially, as for want of good experience, and acquaintance in the Christian life, and battaile, are more easily deceiued, and beguiled then others are. And hereof it is, that many haue been ouertaken, and oft doe slide, and fall daungerously, and are carried from keeping a good conscience, and from well doing: And diuers commit those sinnes which they had long abstained from, hoping that they should neuer haue fallen into them any more: But what then?