A10945:460
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.
And although, according to that which they know of the will of God, they have some care to avoid offences; yet do not many of them seek, nor §Hset themselves to know that which they might, of God, nor of their own duties: neither to grow forward in many good things, as they might do, believing assuredly that God will supply their wants, and help their infirmities, as he would they should; but rather do many things to the great offence of others,1 and all for that they are so little acquainted with their hearts (which (in many) are touchy, froward, wilful, worldly in a dangerous manner) nor with Gods mind and will: by means whereof, some maintain dangerous opinions: As that the law, in no wise, is to be preached; that Papists and Protestants disagreeing in fundamental points of religion, may yet agree together, and be saved, and such like. Many also wax secure and slothful, and §Ithat in no common sort, and otherwise blemished dangerously more then with common frailties: and are not, for the most part, roused up, but by some of Gods sharp chastisements, as in taking away their dear friends from them: afflicting their own bodies with some sore sickness, disease, and fear of death, their minds with darkness and ignorance, fear of Gods wrath and heaviness, which they thought sometime should never have taken hold of them. The use of the which being learned by the word, they are much checked and humbled to remember their boldness, pride, and other faults: and somewhat quickened by a lively hope, that God will again be entreated: also their hearts be brought to stoop and bow to the will of God, more §Kmeekly and readily, and not so stiffly to stand in their own conceit, as before they did. After this manner, God is forced to call back many of his: but had it not been better for them, without these sharp corrections, to have made it their meat and drink before, to please him in all things? But thus, their hearts being enlarged and enlightened, they see themselves readily to withstand sundry temptations, which before they did so hardly resist and ⟨p. 143⟩§Againsay, that they found it a continual irksomeness and toil to go about it: or (that which was worse) through hardening of their hearts, they would not see them at all, which was a sore blemish unto them.