A10945:558
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.
1Among these which I count superiors in gifts of the mind, they are to be reckoned, who are strong Christians, and whom God hath endued with a liberal portion of heavenly grace, wisdom, experience, &c. more then other of their brethren, and who know their liberty which they have by §HChrist in things indifferent, and abuse it not. Towards these, the weaker sort must know,2 that it is their duty, not to judge them who use their liberty, which they have by Christ, neither to count them as profane men for doing that, which they themselves dare not do; but to think them such, as God will confirm unto the end: and to consider that they themselves had more need to be settled in the knowledge of the truth, then to take upon them to censure those which are wiser then themselves. The duty of the strong is to bear their infirmities,3 neither to please themselves in the things which they do, but to build up the weak, and to use their liberty aright, serving Christ therein, and seeking the good and benefit of their neighbour: which §Iis done, when for his sake they abstain (when need is) even from things lawful: and then it is necessary, when their weak brother by their example is led to do that which he hath no warrant of, and therefore his conscience is defiled and wounded thereby, and so he waxeth the more backward in the service of God.
1Among these which I count superiours in gifts of the mind, they are to be reckoned, who are strong Christians, and whom God hath indued with a liberall portion of heauenly grace, wisedome, experience, &c. more then other of their brethren, and who know their libertie which they haue by §HChrist in things indifferent, and abuse it not. Towards these, the weaker sort must know,2 that it is their dutie, not to iudge them who vse their libertie, which they haue by Christ, neither to count them as prophane men for doing that, which they themselues dare not doe; but to thinke them such, as God will confirme vnto the end: and to consider that they themselues had more neede to bee setled in the knowledge of the truth, then to take vppon them to censure those which are wiser then themselues. The dutie of the strong is to beare their infirmities,