A02178:1564
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 further to enforce our exhortation, to avoid too scrupulous a fear, which hindereth1 the true examination of our hearts: let us think that it happeneth in the spiritual conflict as in civill wars. We read that many cities lying in great security, have suddenly both been assaulted and overthrown; as also how some Countries (too much negligent in the means) through an excessive fearfulness, have encouraged their enemies with more greedy violence to pray upon them. With which kind of stratagems our adversary me devil being well acquainted, doth often practise this policy. If he see us without all fear too quietly to rest in our selves, he thinketh his assault must needs be the stronger, because our resistance is the weaker. Again, if he descrieth in us a cowardly fear and fainting of heart, before we once begin to join battle with him; he will set upon our immoderate fear, and as villainously as suddenly stab us to the heart, and make a present spoil of us.
But further to inforce our exhortation, to auoyde too scrupulous a feare, which hindereth1 the true examination of our hearts: let vs thinke that it happeneth in the spirituall conflict as in ciuill warres. We reade that many cities lying in great securitie, haue suddenly both beene assaulted and ouerthrowne; as also how some Countries (too much negligent in the meanes) through an excessiue fearefulnes, haue incouraged their enemies with more greedy violence to pray vpon them. With which kinde of stratagems our aduersarie me diuell being well acquainted, doth often practise this policie. If he see vs without all feare too quietly to rest in our selues, he thinketh his assault must needes be the stronger, because our resistance is the weaker. Againe, if he descrieth in vs a cowardly feare and fainting of heart, before we once begin to ioyne battell with him; he will set vpon our immoderate feare, and as villainously as suddenly stab vs to the heart, and make a present spoyle of vs.
- 1A scrupulous fear.A scrupulous feare.