A02178:2112
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.
And hereof they must be so much the more careful, because the wicked by such slips and infirmities, will not only take occasion to discredit them, but even to speak of all their profession, yea and to blaspheme the glorious word of God a•d his eternal truth. Then if we be careful of our own good name, nay if we have any zeal of Gods glory, if we have any care of the word, if we have any love of the Saints; then let us carefully shun all and every infirmity, whereby Gods name is dishonoured, his glorious Gospel blasphemed, his children grieved, and we our selves discredited amongst the wicked And thus much for the open and outward sin.
And hereof they must bee so much the more carefull, because the wicked by such slips and infirmities, will not only take occasion to discredit them, but euen to speake of all their profession, yea and to blaspheme the glorious word of God a•d his eternall truth. Then if wee be carefull of our owne good name, nay if we haue any zeale of Gods glorie, if we haue any care of the word, if wee haue any loue of the Saints; then let vs carefully shunne all and euery infirmitie, whereby Gods name is dishonoured, his glorious Gospell blasphemed, his children grieued, and we our selues discredited amongst the wicked And thus much for the open and outward sinne.
As open sin committed in the sight and view of men hath always the punishment of an evil name joined with it: so also secret sins which are hidden as it were in the dark1 corners of our hearts, do bring us out of favour & credit with God: and when we be once out of credit with him, then doth he make our sins further known unto men. For nothing is so hidden that shall not be brought to light, and nothing so secret that shall not be discovered in the sight of the world. And that we may the better be persuaded of this, let us all know of a surety, that the Lord hath many means to bring such things to light▪ for he can make the fields to have eyes to see our wickedness, he can make the woods to have ears to hear our ungodly counsels: yea he can cause the walls of our bedchambers to bear witness against us for the sins committed upon our beds. If this will not serve, he can go further, and cause our friends to fall out with us, and the men of our counsels to bewray our wickedness. And though he hath not any such purpose when we make him privy to our naughty devices, yet in displeasure the Lord doth cause him all at once