A10945:704
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 if this be easily granted and yielded unto, I say no more but this: I would to God that they, who are in great account for their religion, and do oft and commonly hear the word, did find it so, and did reap this fruit by it, and were holpen all these ways unto godliness, which (God doth know) is seldom so. And therefore where this sound and plain teaching is wanting, how much more must the people needs be out of frame? But where the diligence, skill, love, and plainness in a good order of teaching cannot be found fault with in the Minister, it is certain, that the fault is in the hearers:§H That they, though otherwise they may belong to the Lord, yet are not reverent and attentive in hearing, are not prepared before to hear, or else do not digest willingly that which they have heard; but are surfeited of some dangerous qualities in their lives, or corruptions in their hearts: among which, this is a special one, that as they think of the person who teacheth, so do they of his doctrine, and not otherwise.
And if this be easily graunted and yeelded vnto, I say no more but this: I would to God that they, who are in great account for their religion, and doe oft and commonly heare the word, did finde it so, and did reape this fruite by it, and were holpen al these waies vnto godlines, which (God doth know) is seldome so. And therefore where this sound and plaine teaching is wanting, how much more must the people needes be out of frame? But where the diligence, skill, loue, and plainenes in a good order of teaching cannot be found fault with in the Minister, it is certaine, that the fault is in the hearers:§H That they, though otherwise they may belong to the Lord, yet are not reuerent and attentiue in hearing, are not prepared before to heare, or els doe not digest willingly that which they haue heard; but are surfeited of some dangerous qualities in their liues, or corruptions in their hearts: among which, this is a speciall one, that as they thinke of the person who teacheth, so doe they of his doctrine, and not otherwise.