A02178:2084
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.
The second property of a patient mind is, simply to give up it self unto God, and1 commit itself into his hand, waiting at all times for help from him, who only is the a• thor of all goodness, yet neither prescribing the means, nor appointing the time, nor in any case indenting with him: for the Lord will have the disposition of his mercies free unto himself, to give and to bestow, when and where, and how it pleaseth him, and as it may most make for his glory. We must then evermore and with our whole hearts, desire and crave of the Lord, that his blessed Name may be glorified, that his Kingdom may be enlarged, and his holy will performed: but the means to bring these things to pass, we must wholly leave unto him, who knoweth what is best: and in other things which concern our outward estate, we ought always to rest in his good pleasure. This, i• we can once do, so mercifully doth he use to deal with us, that when we least desire them we shall have them: and when we freely give them up to him, he will soonest give them us again. Solomon desired wisdom of the Lord, but for outward things, his prayer was that he might have a mean estate; then the Lord gave him wisdom, which his heart so much desired,2 and riches also which he did not once desire Oh happy man▪ if in his heart he had desired to walk before the Lord in fear! Abraham gave unto the Lord Isaac his son, which when the Lord did behold, he quickly gave him his son again: even thus also must we think it standeth now with us. The readiest way to obtain life, is to be heartily well contented either to live or to die, and to commit our selves unto the Lord, knowing that nothing ever perished that was committed to his keeping: so is it also in all other outward things, the ready way to obtain them, is to give them up wholly into his hands. But yet we must not commit these things to the Lord with this condition, that he should give them us again, for that were to mock the Lord: but without all care to have them, we3 must give them to him, being (in respect of his glory, and because his good pleasure is so) heartily well content to forgo them, and then if they be good for us, we shall receive them again; if not, we shall receive some spiritual grace, which better shall supply the want of them.