A10945:773
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.
These and such like are the matter of our meditation, and as oft as we go aside to think with purpose and desire of heart upon these things, or any of them, for the better calling of our minds out of the world, then we are said to meditate: so when in or about any of these, we sigh, moan, complain to God, or rejoice, and are quickened in our hearts by such occasions, even §Ithat also is meditation, and most commonly joined with prayer. Of which two holy exercises the book of the Psalms is full, namely that 119. Psalm: where the man of God setteth down his meditations, which he had in every state of his: as either lamentation, complaints, or supplications in his affliction; or joy and thanks for deliverances and prosperity.
These and such like are the matter of our meditation, and as oft as we goe aside to thinke with purpose and desire of heart vpon these things, or any of them, for the better calling of our mindes out of the world, then we are said to meditate: so when in or about any of these, we sigh, moane, complaine to God, or reioyce, and are quickened in our hearts by such occasions, euen §Ithat also is meditation, and most commonly ioyned with prayer. Of which two holie exercises the booke of the Psalmes is full, namely that 119. Psalme: where the man of God setteth downe his meditations, which he had in euerie state of his: as either lamentation, complaints, or supplications in his affliction; or ioy and thankes for deliuerances and prosperitie.
By this understand, what manner of exercise meditation is: Even such an exercise it is, which is required of thee from time to time (as may be convenient) through thy life, that by recording holy and divine things, especially those which may make thee sound in the matter of thy salvation, a little time (when thou mayest best) may be bestowed of thee to dry up thy fleshly and §Kbad humours of earthly mindedness and worldliness, &c. or to quicken thy dull heart, least after thy sleep in sin, the devil maketh thee forget thy former well ordrednes. And because I am too sure that few are acquainted with it, though it be an help most profitable to godliness, I will somewhat more at large speak of it, that the practise of it may be more common: and that they which use it with the other helps, may much more cheerfully go