A02178:1568
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 now coming to the salving of this sore, I shall seem very strange in my cure: and1 so much the more be wondered at, by how much in manner of proceeding I differ from the most sort of men herein, I am not ignorant, that many visiting afflicted consciences,2 cry still; Oh comfort them, oh speak joyful things unto them. Yea, there be some, and those of the most learned, who in such cases are full of these and such like speeches. Why are you so heavy my brother? why are you so cast down my sister? Be of good cheer: take it not so grievously. What is there that you should fear? God is merciful, Christ is a Saviour. These be speeches of love indeed: but they often do the poor souls as much good herein, as if they should pour cold water into their bosoms; when as without further searching of their sores, they may as well minister a malady as a medicine. For as nutritive and cordial medicines are not good for every sick person, especially when the body needeth rather a strong purgation, than a matter restorative; and as incarnative medicines may for the time allay the pain of the patient, but after the grief becometh more grievous: so the comfortable applying of Gods promises are not so profitable for every one that is humbled, especially when their souls are rather further to be cast down, than as yet to be raised up: so those sugared consolations may for a while over-heal the conscience, and abate some present grief; but so as afterwards the smart may be the sorer, and the grief may grow the greater: hereof ensueth this effect, that comfort seemeth to cure for a while, but for want of wisdom in the right discerning of the cause, men minister one medicine for another; and so for want of skill, the latter fit grindeth them sorer than the former. Some there be, who without all precept and practise will be their own Physicians: and these, so soon as the fit cometh upon them, think it the best to chastise3 and to chase away their sorrow, by drinking at taverns, by minstrelsy, in merry company, by purging melancholy in taking Physic: all which may seem to wear away the pain for a while, but yet after it biteth more deeply, when the burning fever of their spirits shaketh them with a second recourse:
But now comming to the saluing of this sore, I shall seeme very strange in my cure: and