A02178:2119
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.
To these therefore there must be added a third thing, which hath most special force for1 this purpose, and that is, that we be plentiful in good works. This doth our Saviour Christ charge us to be careful of, when he saith, Let your light so shine before m•n, that they may see your good works. Many repine at the good report of another m•n, and they be greatly grieved, because they themselves be not in the like or some better credit. But alas, they should rather be grieved at themselves, because the fault is in themselves, for they regard not to do good, they are careless of good works, and therefore the Lord is as careless of them and their credit. Well, he that will be commended, must do the things that be commendable, he must do good works, yea, he must do good and pursue it. Yea, we must know that it is not one good work, nor two, nor three, that can gain us a good name indeed: but it is required at us, that we be rich in well doing, and continually given to every good work. For as a precious ointment (whereto a good name is compared) is2 made of many and most excellent simples: so a good name cannot be gotten but by many most excellent virtues. Now when we feel our selves affected to goodness, then we are warily to see to two things: First, that all our works be done with a simple and sincere3 affection: Secondly, that they be done with good discretion. For when a thing is done undiscretely and without advise, it loseth the grace and beauty of the deed: and therefore though the thing be good, yet no great praise doth come of it, because it was not done4 with good discretion. Likewise, when men do things with sinister affections, & to some other end then to the glory of God, they do commonly lose the price of their doings. And hereof it cometh to pass, that many men which do good works to merit by them, or to5 win the favour of their superiors, or to be of good report among the people, or to some such other end, when (I say) men do things to this end, the Lord punisheth them with the contrary,