A02178:1758
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.
As for the poorer fort▪ if they cannot offer an ox, let them offer a turtle dove; if they cannot offer a dove, let them offer a little fine wheat flower: I mean, if they cannot provide a grave preacher, yet at the least, they may procure some good man to read the holy word of God unto them, to deliver the plain and pure sense of the Scriptures to them, and to help them1 in prayer and other holy exercises of religion. For if they can in their several ships maintain a guide skilful in seafaring to conduct them in there navigations, then by a general purse they may far more easily sustain the charges of a teacher, who in great dangers may strengthen & comfort them, in all estates may guide and safeguard them to the haven of heaven. Fifthly, in respect that they have greater blessings on the Seas, receive greater ⟨p. 165⟩testimonies of Gods favour, taste more bountifully of Gods power in imminent and fearful dangers, and more liberally have experience of his providence in their marvellous preservation, than their brethren on the land; I think they ought not to be less zealous, but more careful of the worship of God, than others on the land. Though then the prescript form of the law cannot always be used, and yet the proportion of the law may be2 observed: and seeing God is the Lord of the seas as well as he is the governor of the land, he is no less to be worshipped in the one than in the other▪ & yet the want of this his worship hath distinguished the seafaring men from others by their monstrous profaneness, and brutish irreligiousness. And yet in that this evil is not so general, but that even in that calling there are some that fear the Lord, it is manifest that the fault is not in the calling, which in it self is lawful, but in the corruptions of the persons, who are degenerated into an hellish atheism.
As for the poorer fort▪ if they cannot offer an oxe, let them offer a turtle doue; if they cānot offer a doue, let them offer a little fine wheate flower: I meane, if they cannot prouide a graue preacher, yet at the least, they may procure some good man to read the holy word of God vnto them, to deliuer the plaine and pure sense of the Scriptures to them, and to help them