A10945:605
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.
It is our duty also, by our hand writing,1 or any other credit bringing unto him, whose good conversation is approved of us, to free his name from unjust reproach: yea, and if the case be weighty and urgent, so far as we be privy to his innocency, not to be unwilling to free him by our oath. There is yet another thing, wherein our love should show it self towards our neighbour, as necessarily as in any of the rest: And that is, by uprightness of heart,2 and kindness to interpret all such of his sayings and doings, as may be well taken, in the best part; and not for some little blemish, and as it were half a fault, to deface the whole: and to be free from surmising and conceitedness §Dabout that which cannot be proved, and brought to light:3 As godly Joseph is commended to have been in judging of Mary; and as the Apostles, who judged simply of Judas himself, so long as they saw him not convicted. And this we should do the rather, not to stand upon the uttermost, as through uncharitableness being able to bear with nothing: For who doth not know, both how prone our nature is to be meddling, and going too far? about such uncertainties: and also,4 that when we have concluded and given sentence, as though there were no doubt in the matter, yet it falleth out oftentimes, that we were (and that to our great shame) merely led with rashness, and utterly deceived? (which cannot be more clearly seen, then §Ein Saul against David and Jonathan, both by bare conceit against both, 1. Sam. 22. and by hearkening amiss to Doeg against one of them, vers. 11.5) To our shame, I say, because what shame almost can be greater, then first to take that in the evil part, which was never so meant? and from so thinking of it, to proceed to rash judgement accordingly? Like him in the Gospel, who seeing our Saviour to admit a penitent woman near unto him, who had before that, bin an offensive liver, proceeded immediately to this conclusion: