A10945:606
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.
wherein, when we shall see how slenderly and coldly we set upon them, we shall be enforced to confess, that our rigour was too severe against others, especially for bare surmises of faults, which had no sufficient ground. As for those, of whom we through charity think the best, when yet we sometimes see them prove otherwise, and our selves deceived in them, I say it maketh no matter: we have done but our duty, to be charitable minded towards them. And as for them, their sin is their own, and shall double their punishment, in as much as they have deceived §Gour hope, which we had of them: for if there were any spark of goodness in them, our good hope of them, would make them ashamed to deceive our expectation.1 Yet let us not be fools in judging well of them, whose minds and purposes we know to be evil by their words, conversation, and long knowledge of them, or by such like testimonies of their profaneness and boldness in sin: for that were unsavoury and silly foolishness: and (whiles we would go about to be charitable) to show our selves ungodly in calling evil good: 2and to forget the commandment of our Saviour, who saith,3 beware of men: therefore much more beware how ye commend them. Of such we should make no scruple nor doubt to know, and think of them §Hto be wicked as they be, and to give warning to others, who are simple and innocent; and therefore might easily be deceived, and mocked by them: as Peter did to them who were converted, when he said to them; Save your selves from this froward generation, 4meaning those who had been their companions.
wherein, when we shall see how slenderly and coldly we set vpon them, we shall be inforced to confesse, that our rigour was too seuere against others, especially for bare surmizes of faults, which had no sufficient ground. As for those, of whom we through charitie thinke the best, when yet we sometimes see them prooue otherwise, and our selues deceiued in them, I say it maketh no matter: we haue done but our dutie, to be charitabile minded towards them. And as for them, their sinne is their owne, and shall double their punishment, in as much as they haue deceiued