A10945:729
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.
Concerning the next objection,1 that though the ministers be not offensive §Das the former, yet they should use no set form of prayer, but as they are moved by Gods spirit: I answer, it is a fond error so to think. For as there be necessary things to be prayed for, of all men, and always, and those are the most things which we are to pray to the Lord for: so there may be prescript forms of prayer made concerning all such things. Which being so, what letteth that in the reading of such forms either of confession of sins, request, or thanksgiving; what letteth (I say) that the hearers hearts may not profitably go with the same, both to humble, to quicken, and to comfort? For is the reading it self unpure, when the minister in his own behalf and the peoples, uttereth them to God? I speak not (ye see) of the §Ematter of prayer, but of reading it: for if the matter be erroneous and naught, the pronouncing of it maketh it not good, any more then the reading doth: if it be good and pure, being uttered or pronounced, the reading cannot hurt it or make it evil. And as the Church in the Scripture did and doth now sing Psalms upon a book to God, and yet though it utter a prescript form of words, I hope none will say, that it is a sin to do so, the heart being prepared: in like manner, to follow a prescript form of words in praying, ⟨p. 224⟩is no sin: and therefore ought not to be offensive to any.
Concerning the next obiection,1 that though the ministers be not offensiue §Das the former, yet they should vse no set forme of prayer, but as they are moued by Gods spirit: I answere, it is a fond error so to thinke. For as there be necessarie things to be prayed for, of all men, and alwaies, and those are the most things which we are to pray to the Lord for: so there may be prescript formes of prayer made concerning all such things. Which being so, what letteth that in the reading of such formes either of confession of sinnes, request, or thanksgiuing; what letteth (I say) that the hearers hearts may not profitably goe with the same, both to humble, to quicken, and to comfort? For is the reading it selfe vnpure, when the minister in his owne behalfe and the peoples, vttereth them to God? I speake not (ye see) of the