A02178:2058
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.
Thus then we see the question answered: namely, that there is an inferior working which may be lost; and a more effectual working of the spirit which can never be taken away from them that have it. And this must not seem strange to us, neither must we be offended that the Lord should take some, and leave others: or that he should begin in some, and not bring his work to perfection: for so he dealeth with other things in the world. Some corn is sown and never riseth: some springeth, and yet shortly withereth:1 some groweth up to an ear, & yet then is stricken or blasted: and othersome (at his good pleasure) doth come to a timely ripeness. In like manner, some trees are planted and never2 take root: some take root, but yet not blossom: some blossom, & yet never bring forth fruit: and othersome through his goodness do bring forth fruit in good season. ⟨p. 246⟩If the Lord deal so with the plant and herb of the field, why may he not deal so with us, the sons of men? If we cannot conceive the reason of this, we must hold our peace: for all the works of God are done in righteousness, and all our knowledge is unperfect: therefore we must herein rather accuse our selves of ignorance, than the Lord of unrighteousness: nay, we our selves do deal in like sort with those things which be under our hand. In Colleges, Fellows are first chosen to be Probationers, and if they be then approved, they be made full fellows, otherwise they are not. If a man being childless, do take some friends child to make him heir of all his goods: he will keep him upon liking, if his manners be honest he shall be preferred, yea it may be set over all his house, and yet afterwards for some fault committed, quite cast off. Some other man taketh another child to the same end, and maketh him heir indeed: so then we must think it righteous in the Lord to deal thus with us, seeing we are in his hand: and we must not be offended, though he call some, and do not enlighten them: and although he enlighten some, and do not continue them, and do of his great mercy continue some even unto the end: let us rather see what use we must make of this doctrine.
Thus then we see the question answered: namely, that there is an inferiour working which may be lost; and a more effectuall working of the spirit which can neuer be taken away from them that haue it. And this must not seeme strange to vs, neither must we be offended that the Lord should take some, and leaue others: or that he should begin in some, and not bring his worke to perfection: for so he dealeth with other things in the world. Some corne is sowen and neuer riseth: some springeth, and yet shortly withereth: