A10945:81
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
Treatise 1 › Chapter 2: Of mans misery.Treatise 1 › Chapter 2: Of mans miserie.
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.
I have not yet spoken of the plagues and punishments which take hold §Eupon the soul, which are yet more fearful then those of the body,1 if so be they could as easily be discerned. A man to be given up to his own vile lusts, like a brute beast to wallow in filthiness, who might have shined as an Angel in goodness, is there any of judgement, which counteth it not amongst the most fearful judgements? To be utterly darkened and destitute of the true knowledge of God and of the life to come (the knowledge whereof is the beauty of the world) and to be hastening to endless woe, and yet not ⟨p. 6⟩to understand it: what part of misery can be greater in this world? To be so §Fhardened in heart as to be past all feeling & remorse, to fall into utter desperation without recovery by any thing he can do: such madness, frenzy, & heaps of the like, can any thing be thought more full of horror? and all these is woeful man under. There is none which hath not brought himself into the depth of them all: which is all (I may say truly) that he hath to glory of. So that I think it cannot be denied but that he is miserable: unto the which to add (as the shutting up of all) the remediless fears, and deep doubts, which oft bring anguish here, the pains and torture of both soul and body in the end of this life, when both must take up their dwelling in he•; who so shall hear it, must needs confess, that there wanteth herein no §Gpiece of misery. But seeing the Scripture it self calleth it pain unspeakable, I will not go about to describe it, least I should any way seem to make it less then it is. It is sufficient for this purpose that it is most extreme, easeless, and endless. This I have said of the misery of man, and of both the parts of it, as I did purpose, and that in as few sentences as well I might, and fewer in deed, then such a weighty matter would have required, but that it is elsewhere handled by others. And I have determined to say no more then I must needs, of those things, which are set forth at large both plainly by many learned brethren, and in very good sort and order already.