A02178:1761
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.
Concerning seeding time and harvest, we have heard them on the Sabbath by express1 words forbidden in Exodus. And here one thing maketh me to marvel, why men plead rather for the liberty of the harvest, than of the seeding time, when the time is alike for the one and for the other, and he that restrained the one, restraineth the other: yea and there is more wisdom and less labour required in the seeding, and there is less heed & more labour used in the reaping time. And yet many think it strange to sow and plough on the Sabbath day, who make no conscience to mow, reap, and cart it on that day. But here to2 the commandment let us join the promise. If we be careless to provide for the worship of God, the Lord will ease himself for caring for us. But, if we first seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, all these things shall be given unto us. And in truth the necessity of the harvest rather chargeth us with many moe duties on the Lords day, than dischargeth ⟨p. 166⟩us of any one. First the labour of the six days at that season is so great, as men cannot3 4conveniently give themselves to the worship of God, either publicly or privately, and in that respect especially in that time they are to make conscience of the Sabbath, wherein they must endeavour to make some godly supply for their former defects. Under this we may couch another reason. Although greater possessors have larger liberty in the works of this calling, yet have they servants and cattle, which at harvest time especially labour:5 for whose good and ease seeing the Lord hath provided in every Sabbath, we cannot without unmercifulness to the creatures, and the controlling of God his ordinance, in these busy times especially, deny our servants and cattle their rest, because they had then most need to cease on the Sabbath day, when they most travail on the week days. Again, experience6