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.

[ C] CHAP. 2. Of the first priuiledge: That the beleeuers may know in this world, that they haue eternall life.

OF the first sort, this is one (which the rich men of the world, who want it, cannot purchase with all their substance:) I meane, that they may know and bee perswaded that they are beloued of God, and that their names are written in hea∣uen, and therefore although they be strangers heere for a while, yet that they shall vndoubtedly be saued; whiles in the meane season, [ D] others who are farre from it, doe please themselues with laughing at their fol∣ly, saucinesse and madnesse (as they count it) for that they fancie such things to themselues. Whereby they declare (in thinking there are no such to whom this is reueiled) what a priuiledge it is, to know so much of Gods will and minde, to be partakers of so great a treasure, as the mightie ones doe confesse is vtterly hidden from them. Now for proofe of it, that God al∣loweth them to know it, what is more manifest than this which is written by Saint Iohn? Behold, what loue the father hath giuen to vs, that we should be called the sonnes of God. And againe: As many as receiued him, to them he gaue preroga∣tiue to be the sonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue in his name. Also: These [ E] things haue I written vnto you that beleeue in the name of the sonne of God, that yee may know, that yee haue eternall life, &c. But this matter hauing beene largely handled in the first chapter, may with fewer proofes satisfie such as de∣sire to heare more of it.

Therefore as this is not to be doubted of, that true Christians know them∣selues, or may by some euidences, (euen the weakest) to be beloued of God, and that they shall be saued: so how great a priuiledge this is, let them learne

(who set little by it) of Christ himselfe, who hath valued it at a greater price [ F] then all the world: What shall it profit a man though he should winne the whole world, if he loose his owne soule? or what shall a man giue for recompence of his soule? Now if the knowing of this secret, that God loueth vs, be a priuiledge of so great account, yea though a man should know it but dimly, and if he should know it but once in all his life: what a manner of priuiledge then is this to be accounted, that we may grow from faith to faith, and from a darker knowledge of it to a clearer from day to day, and that, with better assurance then we hold any thing in this life by seale, writing, witnesse, or any other way that law can deuise? For indeed the benefit of knowing this so great a [ G] treasure to be fallen vs, were by many degrees lesse, if it were, when it is once knowne to vs, afterward to be doubted of and called into question againe, and that our assurance might not both grow greater, and daily continuance of the same be obteined.

But thanks be to God for his vnspeakable mercy, who hath prouided, that the longer we liue, the better we may know it. For the longer that we haue be∣leeued Gods promise, and beene acquainted with it, who doubteth, but that we may much more cleerely be perswaded of it, then in former times when we first beleeued, and when we had not as yet so often considered it, nor so deepely weighed what might hinder and weaken our faith, or come against it? [ H] For at the first enlightning of our hearts with this sunne-shine of faith, we haue many mistes and cloudes cast before our eies, to dim & darken it: many doubts arising from our owne weaknesse, vnworthinesse & feeling of our sins when we haue had as yet little experience of Gods tender compassion & care ouer vs, or at least when little marked of vs; much feare troubleth vs then, be∣cause we see many things to accuse vs, and for that we doe not many duties which we heare taught vnto vs; but when we are better acquainted with him, we more easily beleeue, that he will forgiue them all vnto vs. And as the yoong childe is not able to stand and go alone, till time hath brought more strength: euen so it fareth with vs. But when we haue after longer time seene the will and [ I] minde of God to be constant & vnchangeable, our own care to please God to be vnfeigned though vnperfect (more then which nothing is required of vs) and that the best of Gods seruants haue had the same infirmities as well as we, & that we haue liberty, when we see our weaknesse to seeke pardon of the same at the hands of our good God; these and such like considerations after longer time, when we haue oft weighed, God hath giuen vs greater strength of faith, and strengthned vs to waxe more confident, euen as we haue withall become more humble and obedient. So farre is it off, that this assurance the longer time we haue inioied it, should be further off from vs.

And as for that many obiect, that sundry of Gods children, after they haue [ K] knowen it, doe fall to doubt of it after, this gainsaieth not that which I af∣firme. For that it may be and is thus, I deny not; the deuils subtilty and ma∣lice being stronger then men haue faith to resist it. But the trueth is, that as the godly are renewed but in part: so through corruption they may waxe wea∣rie oftentimes of that care which should procure their welfare, and may (as no doubt but many doe) neglect to nourish their faith daily, and slake their

[ A] delight in vsing reuerently the best meanes for the conforming of the same: and therefore, such doe the oftner taste of the hard dyet of other men, be∣cause they will sometimes choose to follow their waies.

Besides, there are others which though they offend not that way, yet they giue too much place to distrust, hauing no iust cause, by an euill conscience, which is the greatest enemie to faith: and heereby they depriue themselues of the benefit of this faith and confidence. Which kind of people must labor to stay themselues by the perswasion of such Scripture as is written of pur∣pose for their comfort, as: Take my yoke vpon you, and yee shall finde rest to your [ B] soules. also: A contrite heart God will not despise, &c. Mat. 11.29. Psal. 51.17. Mat. 12.20. Psa. 43.5. But to returne, seeing they may hold & abide in Gods loue, and hold fast this knowledge of it, the longer they liue, they see this must be granted them also: That none shall take them out of the Lords hands or custodie, but that he will care for them vnto the resurrection day.

Wherein this is a further degree flowing from the former, that this loue of God being shed into their hearts plentifully by the holy Ghost, it maketh them more quiet, ioyfull and better satisfied, then all that can be desired of them besides, according to that which Saint Peter saith: Though we see him not, yet we beleeue in him, and we reioice with ioy vnspeakable and glorious. [ C] For what is there in the world, that can raise the like ioy in our hearts, as this, that we know that we shall see the good pleasures of the Lord in the land of the liuing (that is, in his militant church heere) and haue an house not made with hands, but eternall, in his triumphant heereafter? who doeth not see, as the former ages haue found and felt, and they who yet remaine on earth shall finde, that to all other things, euen the best, there is an appointed end? And therefore the ioy that men conceiue for them, is but flitting and momenta∣nie, not vnspeakable and euerlasting. So that the peace and ioy which arise from the certeinty of our saluation, is woorthely rekoned as a singular pri∣uiledge, in as much, as it doeth not onely exceed all worldly treasures; but [ D] also, because it is proper to the children of God, and the other haue no part in it.

And further, this should better appeare, how great a priuiledge it is to be beloued of God, if we could possibly conceiue the dreadfull feare of the re∣probate in desperation, and how little comfort such an one taketh in all his wealth and delights which he hath in this world (in whatsoeuer price and ac∣count they are with fooles:) but would giue them all for one quarter of an houres feeling of Gods louing kindnesse and sweet countenance towards him, if it could be inioied, and the sound peace and comfort that commeth with it. And therefore if any will know the benefit and greatnesse of this pri∣uiledge, [ E] let him aske of them, who hauing hardned their hearts through vn∣beliefe, are growne into despaire: who with wearisome sighes and groanes, that cannot be expressed, doe thinke with themselues and speake many times: Oh how happy are those which are saued? yea, and what would they giue, if they had it, how many thousand worlds, for a part in Gods kingdome? Or if the damned soules in hell could speake, they would tell you, whether this be a prerogatiue, to be kept so safely from the torments thereof, and honoured

with the assurance of heauen and happinesse; as partly may be gathered by [ F] that which Saint Luke writeth of the Epicure in the Gospel, saying: Oh that the tippe of a finger were dipped in water to coole my tongue; for I am tor∣mented in this flame. And without it, (I meane, where this is not inioied) I doe maruell, that vaine, deceiueable and transitorie, yea loathsome and filthy pleasures are so hunted after, as they be: euen till they iustle out all re∣membrance and regard of heauenly things altogether. And this sweet liberty peculiar to Gods children, which I now speake of, is so much the greater by this, that we may inioy it all the day long, and so throughout our life, and are not stinted nor tied to one houre or time wherein we may possesse it: and also [ G] because the longer time we be partakers of it, the sweeter it is vnto vs, seeing we doe the better know the benefit of it, and that none hath power to depriue vs of it. And thus much of the first priuiledge; namely, The certeintie of our saluation, whiles we are in this life: which, if we weigh throughly what we haue beene and what we haue deserued, will (I thinke) be thought no small nor meane gift, but great and woonderfull, and yet proper to the beleeuers: so that all people which shall vnderstand it, may woorthily and for good cause com∣mend the Christians life, to the which it properly perteineth, and wish and trauell to imbrace and be partakers of it most willingly; euen as we read, that in ages past it was said by the Lord, that ten men out of all languages of the [ H] nations, shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Iew, and say: We will goe with you, for we haue heard that God is with you, Zach. 8.23. And if there were no other priuiledge, but this one to be inioied, whiles we liue heere; yet were our porcion exceeding great, seeing so many thousands who heare of it would thinke their estate right happy and good, if after many yeeres paine and heauinesse in seeking it, they might inioy it.

But, glory be to God on high, these are not all the precious benefits and prerogatiues, which God hath willingly bequeathed his seruants, besides all other outward blessings which they haue in common with the vnbeleeuers. Of these therefore, or some of them, which either they doe, or may enioy [ I] daily in the seuerall actions and parts of their liues, to make the same well pleasing to God, acceptable to men, and more easie and sweet to themselues then the most doe finde them; of these (I say) it followeth next to say some thing.

Notes

• Luc. 12.32. Luc. 10.20.
• 1. Ioh. 3.1. Ioh. 1.12. 1. Ioh. 5.13.
• Mat. 16.24.
• Rom. 1.17.
• A Christian may haue better assurance of his saluation, then any man can haue of the things he hol∣deth in this life.
• This priuiledge is the greater, seeing the lon∣ger we enioy it, the better we know it.
• 1. Chron. 28.7. God requireth nothing more, then an vnfeig∣ned care to please him.
• Obiection a∣gainst the sure holding of this priuiledge, an∣swered.

  On cause of doubtfulnesse is, the neglect or carelesse vsing of the meanes whereby faith is confirmed.
• A second cause is, distrust.
• Ps. 77.9.10.
• Ioh. 10.28.
• Rom. 5.5. This priuiledge is the greater for the ioy it bringeth.
• 2. Cor. 5.1.
• Reu. 14.3.
• This priuiledge is the greater by considering the woe of the re∣probate, who want this.
• Luc. 16.24.
• For want of the ioy of this pri∣uiledge, the vaine delights of the world are hunted after. This priuiledge is yet greater, seeing it may be inioyed dayly and to our end.