A10945:488
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.
So that if we feel it not usually, and ordinarily, we have lost and forgone it, either through our forgetfulness, sloth or careless negligence: or if it be through infirmity weakened in us, we ought to stir up our selves with cheerful confidence, to the recovering of it again, and not to be content to be spoiled of so great a treasure. But if this earnest desire after goodness, and vehement zeal of honouring God by that which we know, be quenched: §Dwhether it be overwhelmed with sorrow, fear, or such like passions, or dulled and made blunt in us through lightness, and in following the desire of our hearts amiss, we are in no wise fit to honour God in any service. Thus much of the first part of practise, namely inward.
So that if we feele it not vsually, and ordinarily, we haue lost and forgone it, either through our forgetfulnes, slouth or careles negligence: or if it be through infirmitie weakened in vs, wee ought to stirre vp our selues with cheerefull confidence, to the recouering of it againe, and not to be content to be spoiled of so great a treasure. But if this earnest desire after goodnesse, and vehement zeale of honoring God by that which we know, be quenched: §Dwhether it be ouerwhelmed with sorrow, feare, or such like passions, or dulled and made blunt in vs through lightnes, and in following the desire of our hearts amisse, we are in no wise fit to honour God in any seruice. Thus much of the first part of practise, namely inward.
I will now go forward with the second part,1 which is a branch of the second rule, and helpeth forward to the leading of a godly life; that the believers may, by it, be able to guide themselves aright, and with much ease, in respect of those, who be not acquainted therewith. And this it is, that in well doing, we stay not in our good desires, and in the readiness of the heart to do good, but procure, accomplish and perform the same duties outwardly; that