A10945:655
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.
And that it must be thus with the people of God, and may possibly be also, that of the Prophet doth plainly declare, that the man which may rejoice §Gand speak of his estate with comfort indeed, is he which doth not by fits and at some odd times,1 lift up his heart to God: but who doth so love his law, that he meditateth in the same all the day long, as he himself did, meaning this, that his thoughts should lead him to God from time to time; and when they are occupied about evil, or ranging in the world unprofitably and amiss, that he should by and by without dallying, or delay, call them back again. And what (think we) doth he mean in another place, when not speaking particularly of himself, but generally of all which are the Lords,2 he saith? The blessed man doth exercise himself day and night in this, that he may please God (as his word directeth him) and have peace thereby §Hwith him, and so may testify, that God is his treasure, because his heart and love is set upon his commandments. He doth not mean that we, who will be happy, must be occupied in prayer, hearing or reading only both day and night; neither yet doth he mean, that in some pang, or when we think good, we should be occupied thus, and well affected, and have our lives well framed: but this he meaneth, that he, who is godly and happy indeed, endeavoureth to this, that his mind may delight in, and be possessed of good matters, or rightly using lawful: or carefully resisting those which are sinful.
And that it must be thus with the people of God, and may possibly be also, that of the Prophet doth plainely declare, that the man which may reioyce §Gand speake of his estate with comfort indeede, is he which doth not by fittes and at some odde times,1 lift vp his heart to God: but who doth so loue his law, that he meditateth in the same all the day long, as he himselfe did, meaning this, that his thoughts should leade him to God from time to time; and when they are occupied about euill, or ranging in the world vnprofitabile and amisse, that he should by and by without dallying, or delay, call them backe againe. And what (thinke we) doth he meane in another place, when not speaking particularly of himselfe, but generally of all which are the Lords,