A02178:2073
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 3 › Sermon 2: OF MURMURING THE SECOND SERMON.Part 3 › Sermon 2: OF MVRMVRING THE SECOND SERMON.
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.
This shalt thou learn to do if thou canst receive the favour of God for it self, though it come alone, yea though trouble do come therewith, knowing and persuading thine own heart, that having it thou hast all things; and if thou want it, yet in greatest abundance thou hast nothing. Again, if thou have it, no manner of misery can make thee miserable: and if thou have it not, in greatest felicity thou art most miserable. But the Israelites dealt hereafter a clean contrary manner: for the want of bread here in the ⟨p. 251⟩wilderness, being put for their bodies, did make them to despise their great and wonderful deliverance out of Egypt, which was unto them a sign of their spiritual deliverance. And this is the nature of all natural and worldly men, so basely to estimate Gods graces, that they had rather forgo many richer spiritual benefits and blessings, then one worldly and corporal commodity: for the want of riches doth vex & trouble them, more then the want of spiritual and heavenly graces: and the having of riches doth more rejoice1 their hearts, than the burden of sin, which procureth Gods wrath, doth work their grief. Such men know not that riches are no sure signs of Gods favour, though he in the abundance of his mercy doth let his Sun shine upon the wicked and upon the good: so that the having of riches is no argument that he loveth us; nor the want o• them is any argument of his displeasure towards us. Who so therefore seeketh God in these outward things only, and bindeth his favour unto them, doth neither with them, no• without them, duly esteem of the favour of God, but setteth light thereby: which although in plain words he speaketh not, (for the children of Israel here did not flatly speak against the Lord, but against his Ministers Moses and Aaron) yet whilst he is careless of the word, prayer, and Sacraments, and despiseth and grudgeth against Gods Ministers and servants, he manifestly declareth what price it beareth in his heart. It standeth every man in hand then, in his own• hear• to feel his sin, and to be sorrowful for it; to know it is in him, and then to leave it: least the god of this world whom he serveth, do for a while give him his desire, that in the world to come he may have him for his portion: