A02178:2175
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.
Now more particularly we may observe in this first part three things. First, the power1 of the word to prick our consciences. Secondly, that this prick must not cause in us a more rebelling against the word and Ministers thereof: but rather a greater reverence to them both. Thirdly, such pricks must prepare us to a greater desire to profit. For the first2 we must know, that this is the beginning of repentance, & this is the entry to godliness, even to conceive a sorrow for our sins, and so be wounded with a feeling of our evils. For as long as men are secure, it is not possible that they should seriously apply their mind unto doctrine, neither without the knowledge and feeling of our sins can we heartily long for Christ. To this agree the Law, the Prophets, and the Apostles. The law, because in all their sacrifices, wherein Christ was prefigured, was manifested also under dark signs, the contrition of heart, and acknowledging their unworthiness. The Prophet as David and Isaiah. David in the fourth Psalm and fifth verse faith, Tremble and sin not: where the Prophet showeth, that this is an effectual thing to true repentance, to quake and3 tremble for fear of Gods judgements. That we may then truly examine our selves, we must fear and humble our selves, because before trouble, terror, and quaking at the judgements of God, we will never be brought to offer our selves to Christ alone. In Psalm 51. vers. 18. 19. the Prophet likewise showeth, that no sacrifice is acceptable to God without a contrite heart, that is, neither prayer, neither alms-giving, neither praise of thanksgiving, unless we bringing an humble and contrite spirit with us, cast our selves down before his judgement seat, and sue for mercy in Christ. And here mark that he saith, The sacrifices of God are a troubled spirit, &c. where he using the plural number showeth, that the sacrifices of repentance, which must not be one, but many, are humbleness of the spirit, and contrition of heart. For the affliction of the soul and contrition of the mind, do so cast us down, wounded with our sins, and humbled with a feeling of Gods wrath, as that it maketh us to acknowledge that we are nothing of our selves, and to seek for our salvation wholly at the mercy of God.