A02178:1546
The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…
The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: revised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as love the truth, and desire to know the power of godliness. By H.H.The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: reuised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as loue the truth, and desire to know the power of godlinesse. By H.H.
London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for William Welby, 1612London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for VVilliam VVelby, 1612
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.
But here is a thing to be blushed at, which maketh mens ears to tingle when they hear it; that many men (far no doubt from this true repentance) can largely indeed discourse of the things done in their youth: but with such a bravery, with such boastings, and1 pleasing of themselves in the remembrance of them, as besides that they provoke others to sin in the like, and set themselves a flat back▪ bias against repentance, and this christian examination; they seem to renew the decayed colours of their old sins, with the fresh suite of their second pleasures therein. But alas, what pleasure have they in those things, whereof they have no profit? what profit have they of those things whereof they should be ashamed? Neither in this strain can we forget the madness of them, who may seem2 to steppe one degree farther towards this examination of sin than did the former; by thinking that the leaving of sin, and repenting of sin is all one. Against these both daily experience and the word of God doth sufficiently decline. Joseph▪ brethren (Jacob his sons) who devised evil against their brother, put him into the pit, and sold him unto ⟨p. 101⟩strangers; did cease from this cruelty: but yet they are not read to have remembered3 their sins with any remorse, until thirteen years after the sin was committed; as we may see in the process of the history. David had left his sins of murder and adultery (as thinking all quiet and well) the space of a whole year; after which time (being admonished by the Prophet Satan) he repented of it. And experience hath tried in many, that have had some working of God in them, that though they left their sins many years ago, yet because they repented not truly for them, they have rebounded upon them with terrible sights and fearful visions, to humble them, and to bring them to a serious examination of them, being done and left long since. Examples whereof we need not fetch from far, seeing so many preachers as are acquainted with fearful spirits, will give witness hereof. The fruit of which amazed minds for sins already left, is ours, to beware of sins which are to come. And that other mens harms may teach us blessed wisdom, let us labour not only to leave sin, which one may do for profit, for fear, for praise,