A10945:990
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 through the unskilfulness of men in the right use of the armour, and §Iunacquaintance with every part of it, the lives even of the dear servants of God, are much blemished, and unglorious amongst men, and to themselves (besides the idleness, and unprofitableness, of them) exceedingly uncheerful. Therefore, seeing God hath given them all helps needful for their defence from this present evil world, from subjection to Satan, and their own damnable lusts; seeing also he hath taught them to know this their liberty and privilege, to have the daily aide and benefit of their armour, for the strengthening of them in all good duties, I know nothing to remain doubtful, which should need to trouble them hereafter, no not the weakest, save this one thing: namely, how this armour should be put on.
For through the vnskilfulnes of men in the right vse of the armour, and §Ivnacquaintance with euery part of it, the liues euen of the deare seruants of God, are much blemished, and vnglorious amongst men, and to themselues (besides the idlenes, and vnprofitablnes, of them) exceedingly vncheerefull. Therefore, seeing God hath giuen them all helps needefull for their defence from this present euill world, from subiection to Sathan, and their owne damnable lusts; seeing also he hath taught them to know this their libertie and priuiledge, to haue the daily aide and benefit of their armour, for the strengthening of them in all good duties, I know nothing to remaine doubtful, which should neede to trouble them hereafter, no not the weakest, saue this one thing: namely, how this armour should be put on.
Now to have the feeling of every part of this armour (faith against distrust at any time, hope against fainting, uprightness against hypocrisy, knowledge against the deceitfulness of sin, righteousness against all kind of iniquity, and the preparation of the Gospel of peace against crosses) to have (I say) this armour in a readiness to safe conduct and keep us throughout our life in the practise of our Christian direction, this is to be done: