A10945:982
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.
For if every part of it be so needful throughout our life (as hath bin said) who seeth not, that even such an one, as hath received grace from above, by the preaching of the Gospel, to be borne a new, and to be begotten to a lively hope; yet for all this, shall not thrive, nor prosper, without diligent and usual nourishing of this new birth in him, nor grow up to a perfect age in Christ, delivered from the hindrances by the world and the devil, except he be strongly armed, as God hath taught him to be?
For if euery part of it be so needfull throughout our life (as hath bin said) who seeth not, that euen such an one, as hath receiued grace from aboue, by the preaching of the Gospell, to be borne a new, and to be begotten to a liuely hope; yet for all this, shall not thriue, nor prosper, without diligent and vsuall nourishing of this new birth in him, nor grow vp to a perfect age in Christ, deliuered from the hindrances by the world and the diuell, except he be strongly armed, as God hath taught him to be?
This is so truly verified in all Gods children, that even they who are not the forwardest of others, yet if they have any strength against evil at any time, they have it from God thus, even by the means of the armour. If they §Kwere not sometimes armed, they should make as great breaches, and fall as dangerously, one day as another: and yet if they were acquainted with this armour thoroughly, they should make their worst and most uncomfortable day in the week, equal with the best and the happiest (which they sometime enjoyed) in heavenly passing of their time, and in sweet comfort. And for want of this armour (either for that men know it not, or for not having ⟨p. 267⟩§Ause of it) the infinite irksomenesses, heaviness, distraction, dumpishness, doubting, and fear do vex them, and such like deadly poisons do occupy the hearts even of Christians, as also light rejoicing in a fleshly manner, vain hope, fantastical dreams of peace and safety, where none is. And for want of this, their lives also before men are kept from showing forth light and good example in one thing, as well as in another: yea rather, they are harbourers of sundry evil qualities, in so much that few are encouraged to wax better by them, nor to suspect that any thing is amiss in them, but are hardened to go forward in their old course still.