A02178:1723
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 third reason, Coloss. 2. 16. Let no man condemn you in meat and drink, or in respect ⟨p. 152⟩of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days, 17. Which are but a shadow of things to come▪ but the body is in Christ. This is also understood of the Jewish distinguishing of meats and days. For the Colossians were troubled with false Apostles, as were the Galatians. And what is the reason that they were so encumbered with Jewish observations▪ Forsooth the religion of Christians, which rather consisteth of pure simplicity than pompous solemnity, hath but the word barely preached, the Sacraments without vain shows administered, prayers in humility offered: and therefore it seemeth not so polished, so glorious, and so garnished, as the Jewish religion, which did draw the greater part of men after it. Thus our fathers seeing the Jewish religion so varnished, and the Gentiles religion so pompous, and Christian religion full of simplicity, drew the Gentiles from the simplicity of Christianism, and brought in this heap of ceremonies. Wherefore here Paul telleth them, that these things were but instructions for a time, and pedagogical: and therefore did not so appertain unto them, as they should need to trouble their consciences about them, though they observed them not. Let no man condemn you, saith the Apostle, in such Jewish ceremonies, as for the not observing of them they should count you no Christians. Here is the same drift of the matter, which was of the former; here the Apostle descendeth from generals to particulars, there he ascendeth from particulars to generals. Let no man condemn you in respect of an holy day, which was an octonarie: for eight days long did the feasts of the Jews last, or of the Sabbath days, he saith not of the Sabbath: for he meaneth those Sabbaths, which were appurtenances of the former holy days, not that holy Sabbath which was common to the •ewes, with all other the people of God. And whereas in the former part of the verse it is said, Let no man condemn you in meat and drink, he showeth, that the Jews had certain beasts and birds unclean, and drink-offerings, which were forbidden them, howbeit unto Christians all things are pure.