A02178:1562
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 can we not come to some perfection? No, if you understand it for an absolute unspottedness; albeit to that perfection which the Scripture taketh for soundness, trueth, and sincerity of heart, which is void of careless remissness, we may come. Neither doth the Lord deal with us after our sins, nor reward us after our iniquities: in whose eyes the most glorious actions of men, are but as waters flowing purely from the Conduit, but defiled by passing through a filthy channel. Wherefore having these imperfections, let us not seek to be more righteous than we can be, saying for every error of this life; Oh, I am none of God his sons, I am none of his daughters: for I cannot find that perfection in me which is to be required. But let us comfort our selves in the truth of our hearts, and singleness of our desires to serve God, because he is God; and so we shall be accepted of God.
But can we not come to some perfection? No, if you vnderstand it for an absolute vnspottednes; albeit to that perfection which the Scripture taketh for soundnes, trueth, and sinceritie of heart, which is voide of carelesse remisnes, we may come. Neither doth the Lord deale with vs after our sinnes, nor reward vs after our iniquities: in whose eyes the most glorious actions of men, are but as waters flowing purely from the Conduit, but defiled by passing through a filthy chanell. Wherfore hauing these imperfections, let vs not seeke to be more righteous than we can be, saying for euery error of this life; Oh, I am none of God his sonnes, I am none of his daughters: for I cannot finde that perfection in me which is to be required. But let vs comfort our selues in the truth of our hearts, and singlenes of our desires to serue God, because he is God; and so we shall be accepted of God.
I speak this to this end, that poor souls might have comfort, and know that if they abhor sin as sin, if they examine themselves for it, if they groan under it, if they mislike ⟨p. 105⟩themselves for it, if they fear to fall into it; the Lord will not pursue them with the rigour of his law, but will give them the sweetness of his promises; they are no more under the curse, but under grace.