A02178:1885
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.
We can say and cry, that where there is a want of the means, there is a great token of Gods curse; and I will not deny it, it is so indeed: but yet be it known, that with a singularity of the benefit, if none profit by it, there goeth a singularity of judgement where it is abused: and a more notable judgement remaineth for such a place, than for the other, because it had been better never to have heard, than having heard so much, never to profit. It is good saith David, that I have been afflicted, for I have learned thy law: indeed in this respect it was good for him; and yet it is not good for some to be afflicted, who not profiting by it, become the worse for it, as it was to Lots wife, who was made a pillar of salt.
We can say and cry, that where there is a want of the meanes, there is a great token of Gods curse; and I will not denie it, it is so indeed: but yet be it knowne, that with a singularitie of the benefit, if none profit by it, there goeth a singularitie of iudgement where it is abused: and a more notable iudgement remaineth for such a place, than for the other, because it had been better neuer to haue heard, than hauing heard so much, neuer to profit. It is good saith Dauid, that I haue been afflicted, for I haue learned thy law: indeede in this respect it was good for him; and yet it is not good for some to bee afflicted, who not profiting by it, become the worse for it, as it was to Lots wife, who was made a pillar of salt.
Two things hinder ripeness of knowledge, the one is that men are proudly ignorant,1 persuading them falsely to know that they know not; the other is hardness of hart, whereby they are obdurated against the true profit of knowledge: for either we think we have some deep knowledge, or else we become stony and senseless; that if Gods judgements be spoken we fear not, if his promises be offered we rejoice not, whatsoever is spoken we move not: into such an heart, how much knowledge soever is poured in, though it seem to run over, yet the quantity of it will amount to nothing.