A10945:610
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.
Therefore let us know, and rest in this, that the mark which we must aim §Dat, is this: that in living with our neighbour, we desire neither his hurt in person, goods, or name; but count it the greatest joy that we have by our fellowship and acquaintance with him, when we can rejoice in his welfare & prosperity both outward and inward:1 and therefore heartily desire and wish it from time to time, and in one thing as well as in another, and give those thoughts or lusts small rest in us, which stir us to the contrary: That so we may declare, that we have the same spirit which was in the Apostle; which taught him to say; I wish that thou prosperedst, even as thy soul prospereth. 2And here to shut up this matter with a word or two of sobriety (which is a virtue more properly concerning our selves,3 rather then the person of God or our §Eneighbour, consisting in the moderating of our affections in the use of things lawful) this I say in few words: that we must have special care to use all our lawful liberties, both in the works of our calling, and in buying, selling, moderately and aright. And the same I say of eating, drinking, marriage, recreation, prosperity, youth, age, beauty, friends, strength; because I would briefly conclude with the Apostle in this wise:4 This I say (brethren) because the time is short hereafter, that they which have wives, be as though they had none: and they ⟨p. 188⟩that weep, as though they wept not: and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not:§F and they that buy, as though they possessed not: and they that use the world, as not abusing it. For the fashion of this world goeth away. He therefore that looketh to these things so, that he live in the use of his lawful liberties, to make them serve him (that he may better serve God) and not he them; that man may be said to be sober indeed, and he shall have great rejoicing, whatsoever the world think of him.