A02178:1712
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.
How be it in respect they be but means, and are to give place to the end, to the which they are ordained, I am persuaded, that though the congregation were busy either in hearing the word preached, or in receiving the Sacraments ministered: yet if an house being on fire were in love to be helped, the former actions were to give place to the latter. For we read Act. 20. 10. where Paul being occupied in preaching, and espying a young man, who was in a dead sleep, fallen down dead, made no conscience to cease from speaking, to go down to lay himself upon the young man, & to embrace him, until his spirit returned into him, and afterward went up again and continued his preaching. Wherefore in all these reasons we may see how Christ did show unto the Jews, that they perversely did stand in the ceremony, and did not abrogate the Sabbath. Here then is a far contrary argument to that, which these men affirm. For seeing our Saviour Christ might in one word have showed it to be a ceremony, if he had purposed any such thing, and not have so amplified the matter, we see he rather speaketh against their superstitious opinion and abuse of the Sabbath, than affirmeth any such thing, as these men do surmise. To these former reasons we may add that, which is Matth. 24. 20. Pray that your flight be 1not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day. This, say they, showeth, that the persecution of Jerusalem should be by so much the more grievous to the Jews, if it fell on the Sabbath, because then it was not lawful for them to fly: so that if they stayed, they were like to lose their lives by falling into the hands of their enemies: if they fled, they should break the Law of God, & so become subject to the punishment thereof. But this was nothing in the purpose of our Saviour Christ, who therefore forewarned them to pray, that the destruction of the city should not fall on the Sabbath, because then it would be the more grievous punishment unto them, when besides the havoc of their own bodies, they should see the glory of God thrust through the sides, the Temple polluted, the worship of God ⟨p. 148⟩profaned, the word of God blasphemed, and the Sabbath of the Lord defiled.