A02178:1661
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.
The inconveniences are partly to be observed in the wicked, and partly to be noted in the children of God. In the wicked who either are seduced by false doctrine, or else which are careless of true doctrine. They that are deceived by false religion, be either Papists on ⟨p. 129⟩the one side, the Families of love with such like heretics on the other side: whereof the one, that is the Papists, make the Sabbath day but an ordinance, and ceremony of the Church, and therefore observe it, but as a thing taken up and retained by the Church of Rome: as also they do many other holy days in the year. The other seeing no further into1 it, than as it is an ordinance and ceremony, and thinking it to contain nothing moral, cry out against it, as willing to have it wholly abrogated, seeing all ceremonies have had their end in Christ: alleging, though nothing to the purpose, that God is a spirit, and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth: and therefore the observation of a day is nothing available to his worship. Again, what credit it hath in them that are careless of religion, all men may see. Tush (say these men) the Sabbath is too Jewish and full of superstition: and therefore unto them it is all one with other common holy days, saving that peradventure they had rather have it, than want it; not for any love of religion, but for easing of their flesh, and the more in-glutting themselves with carnal pleasure▪ by means whereof they make it a day of the world, not a day of the Church; a time rather dedicated2 to the pampering of the flesh, than sincerely consecrated to the building up of the soul and spirit. In the children of God otherwise well instructed, have also arisen many scruples concerning this matter, how it is ceremonious, & how it is not: which kind of men keep the Sabbath not as gross heretics, and yet not as careful observers, by reason that they are not throughly taught in it, nor fully persuaded of it. Wherefore we may see how needful this doctrine is, yea although we had no care of them, that are not in the Church; yet in respect of them of whom we have most care, being in the Church of God with us. And this necessity we shall also observe, if in truth we mark the several commodities, which proceed from the right understanding hereof.