A02178:1825
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.
For prayer, that it must be used when we read, it is plain, 1. Cor. 2. The eye hath not seen, &c. meaning not only the joys contained in the kingdom of heaven, but even those that are contained in the word. And again in the same place, As no man knoweth the heart of a man, but the spirit of man: so no man knoweth the meaning of the Lord in his word, except God give him his spirit to declare it unto him. And if we must pray when we come to our meat and drink, that God may give nourishment to us by them, then how much more must we pray God to nourish us by his word: for else we cannot profit thereby; And as no man dare touch meat and drink before he pray, and we have no title to it before it be sanctified to us by prayer: how impudent are they that dare touch Gods book without prayer, or think that otherwise they have title unto it? Paul may plant, and Apollo may water, but God giveth the increase: so if any be senseless still, and yet have heard long, it is because God hath not revealed his will unto them. Men may be diligent, yet they shall err if God give not his spirit: and though they meditate and confer, yet they shall be punished for▪ giving liberty to their roving brain and to their tongue, except they pray for Gods spirit.1
For prayer, that it must be vsed when wee reade, it is plaine, 1. Cor. 2. The eye hath not seene, &c. meaning not onely the ioyes contained in the kingdome of heauen, but euen those that are contained in the word. And againe in the same place, As no man knoweth the heart of a man, but the spirit of man: so no man knoweth the meaning of the Lord in his word, except God giue him his spirit to declare it vnto him. And if we must pray when we come to our meate and drinke, that God may giue nourishment to vs by them, then how much more must we pray God to nourish vs by his word: for else we cannot profit thereby; And as no man dare touch meate and drinke before he pray, and we haue no title to it before it be sanctified to vs by prayer: how impudent are they that dare touch Gods booke without prayer, or thinke that otherwise they haue title vnto it? Paul may plant, and Apollo may water, but God giueth the encrease: so if any be senselesse still, and yet haue heard long, it is because God hath not reuealed his wil vnto them. Men may be diligent, yet they shall erre if God giue not his spirit: and though they meditate and conferre, yet they shall be punished for giuing libertie to their rouing braine and to their tongue, except they pray for Gods spirit.