A02178:1881
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
Part 2 › Treatise 8: A TREATISE OF GODS FEAR.Part 2 › Treatise 8: A TREATISE OF GODS FEARE.
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 fruit which we are to reap by this, is thus much: that if we see occasion of offence, and matter of grief be offered us, we see no more than Moses saw long ago, than David, Isaiah and Christ himself saw in their times before us, in comparison whereof we may make our advantage, that seeing the time of Moses was a time of affliction, and the days we live in are days of peace, it is less marvel to see evil in the days of peace than in the time of trouble: and therefore Luther upon this question, who fears? Psalm. 90. maketh this answer, no man before affliction: showing that affliction should specially lead us to fear, and being once affected with fear, we should either say, Lord what shall I do? or with David say, What shall I repay unto the Lord?
The fruit which we are to reape by this, is thus much: that if we see occasion of offence, and matter of grief be offered vs, we see no more than Moses saw long agoe, than Dauid, Esay and Christ himselfe saw in their times before vs, in comparison wherof we may make our aduantage, that seeing the time of Moses was a time of affliction, and the dayes wee liue in are daies of peace, it is lesse marueile to see euill in the daies of peace than in the time of trouble: and therefore Luther vpon this question, who feares? Psalm. 90. maketh this answere, no man before affliction: shewing that affliction should specially leade vs to feare, and being once affected with feare, wee should either say, Lord what shall I doe? or with Dauid say, What shall I repay vnto the Lord?
Seeing the Lord is fain to complain of the small number of such as fear him, we must take order to mitigate this complaint, that it fall not more justly upon us. In the time of Moses at the least there was Joshua and Caleb; in Christs time Simeon and Anna: At the least we must look there be one true worshipper, as in Elijah time, and so doing we shall make the question vain, and surely if we desire to be such, few will put us by our desire: for as our sins be well called an hereditary sickness, which if it were not so, we would purchase them fast enough: so that knowledge and fear of God not being hereditary, are not withstanding cheapened of few men.