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.

The first Treatise.

CHAP. 1.

• ASsurance of Saluation, the ground of all. [ pag. 1. d.]
• Most men are deceiued a∣bout it. [ ib. e.]
• Papists thinke it impossible. [ ibid.]
• Carnall Protestants thinke it easie. [ ibid.]
• Weake Christians full of doubting. [ 2. f.]
• Three generall heads or parts of this Trea∣tise. [ h.]
• Three branches of the first head. [ i.]

CHAP. 2.

• MAn created happie, fell into miserie. [ 3. b.]
• Two parts of mans miserie.
• The first: His sinne. [ c.]
• Mans sinne what.
• Euery part corrupted. [ d.]
• Vnderstanding, conscience, will.
• Affections. [ e.]
• Conuersation. [ 4. f.]
• Thoughts, desires, outward behauiour. [ g.]
• Mans best actions abhominable. [ h.]
• Few thinke it thus.
• The second part of mans misery: The curse. [ k]
• Which bringeth all plagues.
• After this life.
• In this life.
• The creatures cursed for mans cause:
• Much more himselfe. [ 5. a]
• In all he takes in hand.
• In his body, diseases, &c.
• In his senses, deafnesse. [ b.]
• In his friends and kindred, &c.
• He hath no right to any thing that he inioi∣eth, and shall be called to iudgement for it.
• Men shift off this. [ c.]
• This curse is to all.
• To harden the heart against it, dangerous. [ d.]
• The curse vpon the soule. [ e.]
• To be giuen vp to vile lusts.
• To be darkened in his vnderstanding.
• Hastening to endlesse woe, and not see it.
• Hardnesse of heart. [ 6. f.]
• Desperation, madnesse, &c.
• Remedilesse feares, &c.
• Hell paines, extreame, easelesse & endlesse. [ g]
• The necessitie of this knowledge of mans mi∣serie. [ h.]
• If this doctrine displease men, they may thanke themselues. [ i.]
• The doctrine of the Gospel must go with this.

CHAP. 3.

• OF the knowledge of redemption and deliuerance.
• It must be knowen as well as our misery. [ 7. a.]
• Foure things to be considered in it. [ c.]
• 1. What it is, and wherein it consisteth.
• Merit ouerthrowne. [ d.]
• 2. By whom it is wrought. [ e.]
• 3. How it is reueiled. [ 8. h.]
• 4. How it is receiued and imbraced. [ k.]
• Faith what.
• How it is wrought. [ 9. a.]

CHAP. 4.

• KNowledge of our miserie and redempti∣on, necessarie to saluation. [ 9. d.]
• They are most light, who haue most cause to mourne.
• The person that shall be saued, beleeueth and applieth generall things particularly to himselfe. [ 10. f.]
• Heereby the heart is troubled. [ g.]
• Few, hearing the doctrine of miserie, thinke it to be their owne case. [ i.]
• They are hardned, and make it cōmon. [ 11. b.]
• Their woe at the time of death. [ c.]
• ...

• Answer to such as would not haue the law preached. [ e.]
• The law is to be preached.
• But not without the Gospell. [ 12. f.]
• Effects and fruits of the law preached, in the faithfull. [ g.]
• The ignorance of the law, how dangerous. [ i.]
• Great fault in the minister that teacheth not the law. [ k.]
• Consultation: the second worke. [ 13. b.]
• Consultation necessarie. [ c.]
• Prooued. [ d.]
• Without it, sorrow for sinne profiteth lit∣tle. [ e.]
• They that cannot counsell themselues, must aske. [ 14. f.]
• The complaint of the penitent sinner.
• What his thoughts are.
• 1. About his owne estate.
• 2. Concerning the minde of God towards him. [ i.]
• He is secretly vpholden by the promise.
• Humiliation: the third worke. [ 15. a.]
• How necessarie it is. [ b.]
• What great fruit it brings. [ c.]
• A secret desire of forgiuenesse: the fourth worke. [ e.]
• From what ground this ariseth:
• Or, what breedeth this desire.
• Many are long ere they come to this point: and the cause why. [ 16. f.]
• How feruent this desire ought to be. [ g.]
• To the humbled soule the tidings of saluati∣on most welcome, & til then little set by. [ h.]
• This desire continueth till the thing be ob∣teined. [ 17. a. b.]
• What staieth and vpholdeth him in this case. [ c.]
• He resolueth neuer to walke in his former estate, and why. [ d.]
• How Sathan laboureth that men should not come to this point, and by what meanes. [ e.]
• What hee is the better for this resoluing. [ 18. f. g.]
• Confession and crauing of pardon: the fifth worke. [ h.]
• How this is done.
• How great a matter this is. [ i.]
• To forsake all for it, and highly to price it: the sixth worke. [ k.]
• Obiect. 1. Can these or any thing that man doth, be accepted without faith? [ 19. a.]
• Answ. Although none of these things be faith, yet they are not without it. [ b.]
• We cannot discerne the very moment when faith is wrought.
• Obiect. 2. Must we thus prepare our selues to receiue faith? [ a.]
• Answ. It is not in our power. [ c.]
• It is gods onely worke to doe it. [ d.]
• To apply Christ and his promise: the seuenth worke. [ 20. f.]
• God sealeth vp his promises to the belee∣uer. [ g.]
• How the beleeuer reasoneth with himselfe [ h.]
• He weigheth all things heereto belonging. [ i.]
• He seekes helpe of others. [ 21. a.]
• How he groweth setled in beleeuing. [ b. c.]
• What will follow of applying Christ. [ d.]
• Faith though weake, yet sound, after expe∣rience in a godly life shall be confirmed, and bring rest to the soule. [ 22. f.]
• Faith is rather discerned by the graces that goe with it, then by it selfe. [ g.]
• A description of the smallest measure of faith. [ h.]
• Some attaine assurance in one day, others la∣bour long for it. [ 23. a.]
• Faith vniteth to Christ.
• Common professors haue not this faith. [ b.]
• By what meanes it is wrought. [ d.]
• Why many want it. [ e.]
• The conclusion of this third part. [ 24. f.]
• Markes of faith. [ h.]

CHAP. 5.

• THe second head generall of the treatise.
• Lets of faith. [ i.]
• Many deceiued in faith. [ 25. a.]
• A generall let of faith, the diuels bewitch∣ing. [ c.]
• The minister is the watchman to giue war∣ning.
• Fault of not beleeuing, in the minister and people. [ d.]
• In the minister.
• 1. Not teaching.
• 2. Seldome teaching. [ e.]
• Necessitie of often teaching. [ 26. h.]
• 3. Not plaine teaching. [ i.]
• 4. Want of catechising. [ 27. b.]
• The people should be examined how they pro∣fite. [ d.]
• The Minister should haue authoritie to doe it.
• What good would come of it. [ e.]
• ...

• Commendati••n and necessitie of catechi∣sing. [ 28. f.]
• Good life of ministers. [ g.]
• Priuate conference.

CHAP. 6.

• LEts of faith in the people. [ i.]
• Light esteeming the Gospell. [ k.]
• Fewe that receiue the doctrine, haue faith. [ 29. a.]
• Practise of true Christians. [ c.]
• None beguiled by Sathan but wilfull and foolish. [ 30. f.]
• Particular lets of faith. [ g.]
• 1. Some thinke it impossible.
• 2. Not necessarie.
• 3. Too hard.
• 4. Others are carelesse. [ h.]
• 5. Feare losse.
• 6. Presume. [ i.]
• 7. Neuer broken hearted.
• 8. Feare continuance. [ k.]
• 9. Too slightly seeke it.
• 10 Sudden flashes soone out. [ 31. a.]
• An exhortation to the ministers. [ b.]
• The titles of ministers.
• Their charge. [ c.]
• What their practise should be. [ d.]
• Incouragements to the minister to doe their duties. [ 32. f.]
• 1. From their honour.
• 2. From their comfort.
• 3. The peoples benefit. [ g.]
• 4. From their owne reward. [ h.]
• How to answer the obiections which might discourage vs. [ i.]
• An exhortation to the people to imbrace the ministerie. [ 32. k.]
• The 1. reason: they are messengers of recon∣ciliation. [ 33. a.]
• The 2. reason: from the benefit reaped there∣by. [ d.]
• The peoples sinne.
• How the people hinder themselues. [ 34. f.]
• There are fit remedies to these lets. [ h.]
• Euery desire of saluation, is not faith. [ k.]

CHAP. 7.

• TRue desire giues not ouer. [ 35. a.]
• It must be feruent and constant. [ b.]
• It is strengthened by an high account of the the thing desired.
• No paines and labour in seeking it, thought needlesse. [ d.]
• Difference betwixt sound and vaine desire. [ e.]
• The heart is set vpon Gods promises, if the desire be sound. [ 36. f.]
• Gods will we should beleeue.
• Aduise for the weake Christian. [ h.]
• If any doubting arise. [ i.]
• Not to harken to any contrary voice. [ i. k.]
• The danger of it. [ 37. a.]
• Remedie against feare of continuance. [ b.]
• Conclusion of the former. [ c.]

CHAP. 8.

• HOw the weake in faith should be esta∣blished. [ e.]
• Two sorts of weake ones. [ 38. f.]
• The first sort described.
• The first perswasion to vphold a weake faith. [ h.]
• The second. [ i.]
• The third. [ 39. b.]
• He that is new borne, can neuer die. [ c.]
• The fourth. [ d.]
• The second sort more weake in faith then the former. [ 40. g.]
• They are described. [ h.]
• How melancholie worketh in such. [ i.]
• Perswasions to vphold such weake ones. [ k.]
• Sathan worketh vpon vs by suggestions, and by outward occasions. [ 41. b.]
• He conceiueth our intents and purposes: and how. [ d.]
• His properties.
• He perswadeth and tempteth to sinne, which we delight not in. [ e.]
• He laboureth to dimme our knowledge, and and the sight of Gods grace in vs. [ 42. f.]
• He troubleth much by outward obiects. [ h.]
• The obiections of the weake, in temptation. [ k.]
• The Lords eie watcheth ouer these weake ones. [ 43. a. & b.]
• Remedies against Sathans temptations. [ b. &c.]
• Further remedies. [ c. d.]
• What we should doe, when we feele not the sweete taste of Gods mercies. [ e.]
• A fifth perswasion to vphold weake faith. [ 44. f.]
• A sixth perswasion. [ g.]
• A seuenth perswasion. [ h.]

CHAP. 9.

• HOw farre an vnbeleeuer may go in the profession of Christianitie. [ 45. a.]
• What vse is to be made of this doctrine. [ d.]
• Forwardnesse in religion was sometime in many. [ 46. f.]
• ...

• Apostataes. [ g.]
• The falles of many professors haue made them vile. [ i.]
• Some haue fallen away before trouble come. [ 47. a]
• Let such repent. [ b.]
• What is required in effectuall calling: and how men are deceiued about it. [ d.]
• The lawe is not to be preached without the Gospell. [ 48. g.]
• Why the lawe is preached.
• How men abuse their afflictions through sa∣thans wiles. [ k.]
• Men content themselues with a shadow of of religion. [ 49. b.]
• Looke to that which is principall. [ b.]
• Troubles inward or outward, commend not a man to God. [ c.]
• When a man is none of the woorst, he may be farre from being good. [ e.]
• How men should trie themselues. [ 50. f.]
• Vnstaied ones must vse all meanes to be con∣uerted. [ g. h.]
• Men are carelesse in the weightiest matter. [ 51. b.]
• How they deceiue themselues: or, what weake foundations they build vpon. [ c.]
• Some heare willingly, but will not be warned by it. [ e.]
• Why men are so loth to come to triall. [ d.]
• 1. Because they haue no good euidence to shew. [ f.]
• 2. Their hearts are not vpright: they keepe some sinne. [ 52. g.]
• The maine cause why men loue not to exa∣mine. [ g.]
• Other causes. [ h.]
• Gods children do not so. [ k.]
• The sinne of such as mocke at them that are forwardest. [ 53. b.]
• Exhortation to euery one to try his state. [ c.]

CHAP. 10.

• THe third generall head of this treatise. [ 54. h.]
• Eight companions of faith. [ i.]
• ...1. Ioy.
  • This doth not alwaies appeare outwardly. [ 55. b.]
  • How this ioy is felt in afflictions. [ c.]
  • The want of it argueth weake faith. [ d.]
  • Obiect. You zealous folke, some of you are euer sad.
  • Answer. Some are weake in faith: they must mourne till they be ••••mforted. [ e.]
  • What mourning is good. [ 56. f.]
  • Answere to such as take offence at the heauinesse of Gods children. [ g.]
  • Obiect. The sadnesse of some professors, makes many shun religion. [ g.]
  • Answer. All mirth is madnes, that pro∣ceeds not from faith. [ h.]
• ...2. Holy admiration. [ i.]
  • This is not in a Christian at his first cal∣ling onely, but is after continued and increased. [ 57. a.]
  • Answere to such as thinke we must not wonder alwaies. [ c.]
  • What letteth this grace. [ 58. g.]
• ...3. Loue. [ h.]
  • None haue this but they that are loued first.
  • The true beleeuers feele sensibly the loue of God to shadow the loue of other things. [ k.]
• ...4. Thankefulnesse. [ 59. b.]
  • It must be daily. [ c.]
  • Euen in afflictions.
  • Praise God alone, aswell as in the assem∣blie. [ d.]
• ...5. A desire of an holy communion with God. [ e.]
  • Gods presence in heauen to be preferred before it on earth. [ 60. f.]
  • The estate of them that cannot abide to heare of death. [ g.]
• ...6. To forsake the world. [ h.]
  • A great grace, not to be tied to the world. [ i.]
  • Great folly to set our hearts on things be∣low.
  • Make much of them, til God shew vs bet∣ter. [ 61. a.]
  • A great libertie to be willing to die: such onely are fit to liue.
  • The forsaking of the world is not, to leaue necessary duties. [ b.]
  • For what respects we may desire to liue. [ c.]
  • Cloistering and such like, no point of god∣linesse. [ d.]
• ...7. Shame for our former vnkindnesse vn∣to God. [ 62. h.]
  • The beleeuers reuenge themselues for their former sinnes. [ i.]
• ...8. To conuert & bring on others. [ 63. a.]
  • Edifying talke, good for our selues and o∣thers. [ c.]
  • ...

• ...
  • Vse it a•• it may be, though we see not pre∣sent fruit of it. [ d.]

CHAP. 11.

• HOw weake faith is confirmed. [ 64. h.]
• The first meane: To account it chiefe. [ k.]
• The best things must best be regarded. [ 65. a.]
• Euill must be auoided, and lawfull liberties soberly vsed. [ b.]
• The second: Earnest prayer, with medita∣tion, &c. [ c.]
• True beleeuers soone faint and are fearefull. [ e.]
• They must much helpe their weaknesse, and oft. [ 66. g.]
• Obserue how God keepeth promise in smal∣ler things, that they may beleeue him in greater. [ i.]
• The third meane: The word and sacra∣ments. [ k.]
• The fourth: A daily humiliation for sinne. [ 67. a.]
• The fifth: Their former experience.
• The faithfull haue neere acquaintance with God. [ b.]
• They are called his friends. [ c.]
• Let no place be giuen to doubting. [ d.]
• How faith is weakned. [ e.]
• Thinke of this as the weightiest matter, in the morning, if it may be. [ 68. f.]
• The sixth: The example of others, who of weake become strong. [ h.]

CHAP. 12.

• THe sweet fruit and benefit of preseruing and confirming our faith. [ i.]
• No outward meanes confirme faith, if we price it not the best of all things. [ k.]
• A pithy speech of a worthy person. [ 69. a.]
• The chiefest thing euery morning, is to re∣member Gods loue. [ d.]
• Gods children not so wise for their good, as the bad for theirs. [ e.]
• Many good Christians haue not halfe the comfort they might haue. [ 70. f.]
• Their example hurteth others. [ g.]
• Vnsetling of our selues from nourishing faith, is full of dangers. [ h.]
• The longer we liue, the better we should be. [ 71. b.]
• Many haue found small comfort through their life.
• Three degrees of faith. [ c.]