A10945:636
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.
For when the word is received into a good and honest heart, both it and all other holy exercises with it, become profitable to singular uses.1 But where men propound not this, with themselves, to be cast into the mould of holy doctrine, and to be fashioned after it in their lives, it is far otherwise. For to say nothing of them who from the beginning of the week to the latter §Bend, ask not after God (so little savour they find in the Scriptures, or sweetness in him) yet this is worthy our consideration: that there are thousands which come to Church and hear prayers and sermons, who for all this, are never the better to themselves; and the most of them do more hurt to others by their offensive life, nothing fashioning themselves after the doctrine of faith and amendment. Of whose lamentable condition, what other cause can be showed but this, that their hearts are hardened with the deceitfulness of sin; so that they walk afterwards, in their old ways still: and that they see no such beauty in the truth, which shineth amongst them that they will be subject to it: though Christ reigneth only by the power thereof in the §Chearts of his? John. 18.37.2 For seeing they have not believed and reverenced that which they saw and knew, the Lord hath kept back his grace from them, which he did not owe them, and so given them into Satan's hands to make them bondmen in evil at his pleasure. The which people being not renewed and changed in their minds, and so brought to a loving and delighting in good things, their lip-labour in their serving of God, and time which they give to it, cometh to nothing; neither commendeth them any whit to him; neither leaveth any fruit thereof to themselves.
For when the word is receiued into a good and honest heart, both it and all other holy exercises with it, become profitable to singular vses.1 But where men propound not this, with themselues, to be cast into the mould of holy doctrine, and to be fashioned after it in their liues, it is farre otherwise. For to say nothing of them who from the beginning of the weeke to the latter