A10945:960
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.
1Sincerity or uprightness is that weapon of the spiritual warfare, and that fruit of the spirit which should accompany the whole conversation (not some few actions of a Christian) by the which he is simple and without fraud and hypocrisy bearing sway in him, both towards God and his neighbour: and it may the more clearly be discerned by considering the person in whom it is found, namely an upright man, whom (in the description of Nathaniel) our Saviour Christ calleth a true Israelite in whom there is no guile: which virtue although it be a part of the Christian armour,2 yet that it is rare, not only the best do see, but even the bad sort do complain: according §Ito the words of Solomon: 3Many men will boast, every one of his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man? that is to say, who will prove himself to be such an one indeed, as he will seem to be, by word and show? For to say the truth, men are so infected with hollowness and glossing, and through custom and continuance therein so confirmed in it, that until God changeth the heart,4 Jeremies words are true of this one, as of other evils, It is as possible for him who is accustomed to evil, to return and do good, as for the black Moore to change his skin, or the Leopard her spots.
1Sinceritie or vprightnes is that weapon of the spirituall warfare, and that fruit of the spirit which should accompanie the whole conuersation (not some few actions of a Christian) by the which hee is simple and without fraud and hypocrisie bearing sway in him, both towards God and his neighbour: and it may the more cleerely be discerned by considering the person in whom it is found, namely an vpright man, whom (in the description of Nathaniel) our Sauiour Christ calleth a true Israelite in whom there is no guile: which vertue although it be a part of the Christian armour,2 yet that it is rare, not onely the best doe see, but euen the bad sort doe complaine: according