A02178:1578
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.
Sometime also it cometh to pass, that one shall be tempted with such a sin, as neither heretofore, nor presently he hath given any liking or entertainment unto; and yet the Lord by it may forewarn him how he may fall into it hereafter, as also to show that he hath stood all his former life, rather by the grace of God, than by the strength of flesh and blood. Wherefore when thou art moved to doubt of God, of Christ, of the word, or of justification, do not so much stand wondering at these1 strange temptations, as think with thy self that it is the mercy of God by them, to cause thee better to discern of those temptations in others: when thou shalt have observed with fear and trembling how they make their first entry into a mans heart, how they gather ⟨p. 109⟩strength, how they agree with our corrupt nature, in what degrees they come to some groweth, how the spirit of God doth resist them, what be the means best to prevail against them. And thus if thou make thy profit by them, thou shalt so wonderfully search and descry by several veins, the body, age and *•leight of these temptations in others, by an holy experience which God hath taught thee in thy self, that besides that thou shalt lay forth mens secret corruptions, as if thou wert in their bosoms; thou shalt be able also by the seed of sorrow in thy self, to beget an unspeakable joy in others, who in time may be tempted as thou now art.
Sometime also it commeth to passe, that one shall be tempted with such a sinne, as neither heretofore, nor presently he hath giuen any liking or entertainment vnto; and yet the Lord by it may forewarne him how he may fall into it hereafter, as also to shew that he hath stood all his former life, rather by the grace of God, than by the strength of flesh and blood. Wherefore when thou art moued to doubt of God, of Christ, of the word, or of iustification, doe not so much stand wondring at these1 strange temptations, as thinke with thy selfe that it is the mercie of God by them, to cause thee better to discerne of those temptations in others: when thou shalt haue obserued with feare and trembling how they make their first entrie into a mans heart, how they gather