A10945:464
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.
Such government therefore, as every of Gods servants according to the measure of their knowledge, may have over their hearts, I wish might be kept and continued: which doubtless, although it overcome not all temptations; yet should it weaken them very much, and diminish their strength, so that the cursed fruits of them should not so easily, nor so often break fourth to annoy them.1 The good treasury of the heart if it were carefully kept, would bring forth better things. If ye ask what; my meaning is, not, that only in §Hthe exercises of religion, as prayer, reading and hearing, we should have help and furtherance thereby, to worship God fervently (which commodity were not small) but in our common actions, affairs, and business, we should reap the benefit thereof. For though it be no common thing to be found in the world; yet if men had a continual care over their hearts, to keep them well ordered, they should show it in their talk and dealings: at the market, in their buyings and sellings, in their families, and among their neighbours, as well as among strangers, and in all things about which they may lawfully be occupied. In all these, I say, men should behave themselves plainly and simply;2 justly, peaceably, patiently, meekly, kindly, gently,§I faithfully, temperately, and humbly, (of what state and degree so ever they be, and yet without any disgrace to them; nay the greatest honour and credit) yea and mercifully also, as occasion should be offered: which (I think) if they were found in christians (as, where else are they to be looked for?) they would no less joy the hearts of them who should behold them, then adorn and beautify them,3 who should be patterns of them. And who can say otherwise, but that it were a little heaven, to deal with, and live among such? Even as we see it is a piece of hell, to dwell with them that are of the contrary disposition: As Jacob must have been constrained to abide with Esau, and as Gods people in their captivity, did with the Edomites. God of §Khis singular love (I confess) restraineth many from the excess of evil, that they would otherwise do: seeing otherwise, none could be able to live by them: But whereas some are thus bridled by good laws, and some for shame and vain glory, do depart from much iniquity; and thus patch up a kind of life among men: