A02178:2063
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 fourth and last rule is, in considering the work and effect which Gods mercy received,1 doth work in us: for, herein do the wicked show their wickedness two ways, First, on the right hand, the mercies of God do work in them a wonderful contentation:2 but not such as causeth them to return the glory unto God, nay rather it is such, as causeth them to take all glory to themselves: for the graces of God do puff them up, and make them proud, and conceited in themselves. Here of there ariseth a great security, which bringeth first neglect, and afterward contempt of all good means, whereby they should grow up in goodness. On the left hand others offend, being never pleased nor contented with that they have: nay indeed forgetting and lightly esteeming that they have, and still desiring new. These men besides that they be unthankful, they do also murmur3 and grudge against God, & are never pleased with him Between these two, do the children of God hold a middle and even course: and therefore we shall see these things in them. First, a sight & an acknowledging of the wants which do move them, as S. Peter 4saith, Like new borne babes, to desire the sweet and sincere milk of the word, that thereby the graces they have may be increased, and their other wants may be supplied▪ and so far are they from being puffed up with pride, that they rejoice when their pride may be pulled5 down, or their haughtiness abated, either by some sharp rebuke, or by some fearful threatening, or by some moderate correction from the Lord. For they know, that if it were needful for S. Paul to be buffeted, and that by the minister of Satan, to the intent that his pride might be beaten down: then it is much more needful for them, after sundry ways to be humbled. Besides, they do not only desire the word, but they also wait upon the Lord,6 until it please him to work further in them thereby: and this waiting is as earnest as is theirs, who having watched all the night, do wait and look for the dawning of the day.