A10945:451
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
Treatise 2 › Chapter 12: Of the keeping of the heart once purged, in it good plight afterward.
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.
CHAP. 12. Of the keeping of the heart once purged, in it good plight afterward.
1Now I having showed how God maketh the heart new, and changeth it, before it be fit to be employed in well doing, and in bringing forth fruits of amendment; and also how it being changed, renounceth evil both inward and outward: we must know how to keep it in good plight afterward; that so we may be able from time to time, to continue §Ithat course which by the first change was begun, and so to do any such duties as we are bound to perform: which otherwise cannot be. For as vessels, which have been unsavoury, are not only once seasoned, but kept sweet afterwards, that they may be fit for use; and as men use to purge their springs from that which might stop them: so are our hearts to be preserved in the same sort, that they become not bitter and corrupt, as of themselves naturally they are prone to be. For the best have need of this help whiles they carry flesh about them, therefore much more young beginners. It is the Lords commandment,2 that when our hearts are once cleansed, we should keep them so with all diligence, that is, watch, try, and purge them from all defilements,§K whereby they are wont to be tainted, and poisoned. We must watch them, least we should, for want thereof, be deceived with the baits of sin: we must examine and try them, seeing no man can watch so carefully, but that much evil will creep in: and we must purge out that filthy dross of concupiscence which we find by examining, that it set not our will on fire to satisfy, and perform the desires thereof.