A02178:2211
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.
It followeth. And for joy thereof departeth, &c. It is a thing incident to treasures when they are found to work joy, and great is their joy which have found pleasures, but greater1 is the joy of him that findeth the treasure of salvation, then his joy is that findeth earthly treasures; Show us (saith the Prophet, Psal. the 4.) the light of thy countenance, thy favour and thy grace, and thou shalt make our hearts more cheerful and joyful, than rich men are when their Corn, Oil, and Wine increaseth. Great is the joy that ariseth of abundance of riches, but greater is the joy which ariseth of the love and favourable countenance of God. The man of God saith in Psalm 1•9 the ninth part, and the 72. verse of the Psalm, The law of thy mouth, O Lord, is better than thousands of gold or silver. That man which loveth gold, he taketh great pleasure and delight therein: but yet saith the Prophet, Thy word is sweeter and better esteemed and liked of by me, than thousands of gold and silver. And in the sixteenth part of the same Psalm, verse the •. I love thy commandments (saith he) above gold, yea above most fine gold. And in the 21. part of the same Psalm, and 2. verse of that part, he saith: I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth a great spoil. Pleasures breed joy, profits breed joy, honour and glory breed joy, by a good harvest, with increase of Wine and Oil cometh pleasure, by riches as gold and silver ariseth profit, by victory conquest and spoil of the enemy, honour and glory is gotten. Now all these things being laid jointly together, must needs bring a great joy to a man; but the man of God preferreth the joy which proceedeth from the Word before all these; and that not without good cause, for greater is the joy of the kingdom of heaven, and of eternal salvation in heaven, than the joy which ariseth of all these things. And what is the joy of Wine and Oil to this, that mens hearts are refreshed with the refreshed Wine and Oil of the countenance of God; is it not more than to possess much gold and silver? What greater joy can be than to be persuaded of the love of God in Christ Jesus? the eye hath not seen, neither hath the ear heard, neither can the heart of man conceive of this unspeakable joy of the kingdom of heaven.
It followeth. And for ioy thereof departeth, &c. It is a thing incident to treasures when they are found to worke ioy, and great is their ioy which haue found pleasures, but greater