A10945:599
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.
Last of all, to suffer all men to enjoy their own, and as neither by play, lotteries, laying of wagers, neither by force, violence, or any kind of oppression; so neither by deceit and craft, we seek or procure the hurt of our neighbour, to increase our own profit. And thus I have set down a sum of the chief duties, which our God hath bound us to perform towards our neighbour, concerning his goods, that we be found no way unrighteous in our practise §Band dealings with him, but suffer him to live safely by us, as he trusteth to do:1 wherein though I have laid out nothing in any large manner (which was not my purpose to do further then need requireth) yet he that considereth how many duties here are to be performed, shall see it the more needful to have a brief rehearsal of them, being so many; to the which, as to a glass, he may repair when he will, rather then to desire some few of them, handled more largely, with omission of the rest. In these duties performing, who so setteth himself to delight, and maketh it his pleasure to walk after these rules; and when he can find by due observing himself (that he hath taken any thing wrongfully) to turn back unlawful gain: as his liberty shall be §Cgreat with the Lord, and his confidence strong, when he seeth that for his cause and for the hope of the reward promised him, he can be willing to deny himself, and his own will: so his example shall be highly commended, and do much good amongst men: And yet this should not be to seek with such as go for Gods servants, as it is written: It is joy to the just to do judgement. And let it be remembered that I here teach them,2 who profess that they are willing to learn, not the scorner. To conclude: let not only the forementioned sins against this commandment be avoided, and the contrary duties practised: but let us every way so use our goods, that we may be thereby more fruitful in every good work, then we could be if we wanted §Dthem: else how shall we be able to give a good account to our Lord and Master, and to say: Behold, Lord, here are thy five, or two talents: I have gained with them many more? Luk. 19.18