A02178:2061
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.
The third difference is in love: for though both of them do love God, yet it is after a divers manner; the one of sincerity, the other for wages. A poor child that is taken up, fed, and clothed, will love him that doth thus feed and clothe him: but if he received no more of that man than of another, he would like him, and love him no better than another: even so it is with the wicked, if their bellies he filled, their barns stuffed, and they have their hearts desire, they love God indeed, but yet only for their belly, and their barns. Thus did Saul love God, but it was for his kingdom: thus did Ahithophel love God, but it was because he was advanced to be a Counsellor: and thus did Judas love God, but it was because he was chosen to be an Apostle, and carried the bag. But what became of their love the histories do testify: Saul was a little afflicted, and forsook God:1 Ahithophel somewhat crossed in his devises, hanged himself: and Judas for gain of money, betrayed Christ. Some experience of this we may see among us; Courtiers will be professors, and Scholars of ripe wits will be religious, if that Courtiers may become Counsellors, and if Scholars may be preferred to the chiefest places: but if promotion come, then their profession is forsaken, and their religion laid aside. And yet that is not all, for either they wax profane in their life, or heretical in their opinions. Do the children of God love on this manner? No, the holy Ghost which they have received in effectual manner, doth shed the seed of love in their hearts, and doth work in them a special liking of his goodness, of his righteousness, and of his holiness: and therefore2 of sincere affection they love him. As the natural child loveth his father naturally, and though his father bear him, yet beareth he it, and still loveth him: so do the children of God deal; They have poured into them (as Saint Peter saith) a godly nature, 3so that they do freely love God their father: & though he afflict them, or cross them in their desires, yet they love him, and in love perform their obedience unto him continually: therefore Job saith, Though he kill me▪ yet will I trust in him: They therefore are said to have received a free spirit, and to serve God in the liberty of the spirit. And who seeth not this to be a plain and manifest difference between them?