A10945:472
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 thus (Christian reader) I have set down to thee, one part of the life, which God requireth of thee, whosoever thou art, who lookest for salvation at his hands, being a believer in Christs: that is, that thou shouldest renounce the evil lust which swarm every where in the world, and ungodly life following the same: and how this should be done, and how far thou mayest attain hereunto, even so far as mans frailty will permit, and not as the unbelievers: only be sure that thou hast this in some measure wrought in thee in truth.1 But in all this thou hast been taught §Eonly to cast off that which is sinful and naught; which to do, is (no doubt) a great part of godliness: but there hath been nothing said of the manifold points of duty on the other side, and of the goodness which is to be found in us, and in the which, Gods people must shine as lights unto the world: 2For this is the glory and beauty of a man, as Solomon saith: That which is to be desired of a man, is his goodness. Of this life therefore, which must be wrought in stead of the former evil conversation, and bringeth forth fruits of amendment, ⟨p. 148⟩and consisteth in the doing of good works, I am now to entreat §Fand speak.3 And as this is more hard to attain to, then the other: (as hard as that is) so it is far more precious, and beautiful to be doing of good, then to avoid evil; though he is a rare man, who is not to be charged that way.
ANd thus (Christian reader) I haue set downe to thee, one part of the life, which God requireth of thee, whosoeuer thou art, who lookest for saluation at his hands, being a beleeuer in Christs: that is, that thou shouldest renounce the euill lust which swarme euery where in the world, and vngodly life following the same: and how this should be done, and how farre thou maist attaine hereunto, euen so farre as mans frailty will permit, and not as the vnbeleeuers: only be sure that thou hast this in some measure wrought in thee in truth.