A10945:477
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 where I say I will give thee rules which shall help thee to practise the godly life, mark them well: for because this point is not well learned, therefore many which would gladly live well, attain to it in no good sort to bring it in credit with others, but meet with many unsettlings, discouragements, and coolings of their zeal, yea oft times dangerous outstrayings: neither find the going about it so pleasant, as toilsome and tedious. And it is so in great part, because it is a work whereto they have not been trained: but as they partly see by the examples of others, and partly also do guess themselves,§I but not able to direct their ways soundly, as Gods word teacheth. Now the general rules are these: First, knowledge of duty, with a delighting therein. Secondly, practise of that which we know; the which practise or endeavouring to follow that which we know, is that living by faith, or labouring to keep a good conscience, which the Scripture so oft and diligently commendeth unto us. And for the better furthering of us herein, these virtues are necessary: uprightness, diligence, and constancy.
And where I say I will giue thee rules which shall helpe thee to practise the godly life, marke them well: for because this point is not well learned, therefore many which would gladly liue well, attaine to it in no good sort to bring it in credit with others, but meete with many vnsetlings, discouragements, and coolings of their zeale, yea oft times dangerous outstrayings: neither finde the going about it so pleasant, as toilesome and tedious. And it is so in great part, because it is a worke whereto they haue not been trained: but as they partly see by the examples of others, and partly also doe gesse themselues,§I but not able to direct their waies soundly, as Gods word teacheth. Now the generall rules are these: First, knowledge of dutie, with a delighting therein. Secondly, practise of that which wee know; the which practise or indeuouring to follow that which we know, is that liuing by faith, or labouring to keepe a good conscience, which the Scripture so oft and diligently commendeth vnto vs. And for the better furthering of vs herein, these vertues are necessarie: vprightnes, diligence, and constancie.