A02178:2159
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 yet men without all looking up to Gods providence and secret counsel, without all bethinking1 themselves of their corrupt nature, from which their children are descended, without all looking back into their wicked and godless bringing them up, will fret against their sins, and fume against their children: yea often they will correct them, and that to serve their own corruptions, not so much grieved for that they have sinned against God, as that they have offended them. Christians therefore must know, that when men and women raging with boiling lusts meet together as brute beasts, having none other respects than to satisfy their carnal concupiscence, and to strengthen themselves in worldly desires, when they make no conscience to sanctify the marriage bed with prayer, when they have no care to increase the Church of Christ and the number of the elect, it is the •ust2 judgement of God to send them monsters, untimely births, or disfigured children, or natural fools: or else such as having good gifts of the mind, and well proportioned bodies, are most wicked, graceless, and profane persons. Again on the contrary side, we shall find in the word of God noble and notable men commended unto us for rare examples of virtue and godliness, who were children asked and obtained of God by prayer. Our first parents Adam and Eve being humbled after the birth of their wicked son Cain, obtained a righteous Abel, of whom, when by his bloody brother they3 were bereft, they received that holy man Seth. Abraham begetting a child in the flesh, had a cursed Ismael: but waiting by faith for the accomplishment of Gods covenant, he obtained a blessed Isaac. Jacob not content with one wife, according to the ordinance of God, was punished in his children: yet after being humbled, he received a faithful Joseph. Elkanah and Anna praying and being cast down, had a Prophet that did minister before the Lord. David and Bathsheba lamenting their sins, obtained Solomon a man of excellent wisdom. Zechariah and Elizabeth fearing the Lord, received John the Baptist and forerunner of Christ. Look what sins we have naturally, without Gods great blessing, without prayer and humbling of our selves, we shall convey them to posterity: