A02178:2248
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.
Wherefore miserable was their estate before, but now most miserable, dangerous & damnable (I say) is the estate of our age, wherein those that serve God best, and walk most carefully in their callings, are accounted mad and frantic, precise fools: on the other side, they which are altogether dissolute, & secure in discharging their duties, are taken for the wisest men, and this cometh to pass because men do not consider that saying of the Apostle, 1. Thess 5. verse. Brethren, we beseech you that you know them which labour amongst you, and are over you in the Lord, that you have them in singular love for their works sake.
Wherefore miserable was their estate before, but now most miserable, dangerous & damnable (I say) is the estate of our age, wherein those that serue God best, and walk most carefully in their callings, are accounted mad and franticke, precise fooles: on the other side, they which are altogether dissolute, & secure in discharging their duties, are taken for the wisest men, and this commeth to passe because men doe not consider that saying of the Apostle, 1. Thess 5. verse. Brethren, we beseech you that you know them which labour amongst you, and are ouer you in the Lord, that you haue them in singular loue for their workes sake.
This changing of sin may also be seen in young men of the University, who in their1 youth did live altogether dissolute in their behaviour, but being stricken in years they account gain to be godliness, and so far forth as religion may serve to enrich them, so far are they professors thereof. These and such like have not as yet made a sale of sin, but a change. Satan as yet goeth further, & moves some men to make a more dangerous exchange than this, and bringeth them from one extremity unto another. For many being before given to work wickedness, & that with greediness, and to commit most gross sins, now forsaking that outward wicked course are so puffed up in the pride of their spirit, that they are become such new men, as it were thinking too well of themselves, they run on into the other extremity in seeking after those things which are above their reach; by whose wickedness it cometh to pass that the good graces of God oftentimes fall to the ground, and the children of God fare the worse for them: and thus we see that many do not so much fell as change their sins.