A02178:2264
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.
No doubt Peter, as we said, & the other Apostles were not purposed to deceive mens eyes, yet they fell. Who then are we having no such strength, if the Lord let us see our weakness by withdrawing his spirit from us? why should we think well of our ⟨p. 309⟩selves? Late & lamentable memory shows, that many old Gospellers are now cold professors, some being heretics, some Epicures, some worldlings. No little charge, nor slender burden is Christianity then, for many seek the straight way, and cannot get in, many either in practise or otherwise being plainly Atheists. And surely hereof it must teach us, that Gods Saints in tentation and accusation are so fair to seek for wisdom & strength, as we are to learn wisdom by other inens harms, least in trouble we be such as falter in affliction. Here our Saviour Christ his admonition cometh in speed, that if we will come to him, we must go out of our selves, and think no wi•, wisdom, reason, or strength to stand on temptation if the Lord keep us not. We are as in building, so in battle. for the building we must provide stuff enough; for the battle we must provide sufficient furniture, we are to cast our costs before, we must reckon our revenues, and take account of our armoury, and consult of our ability, because of Christianity be building and warring together, we must provide both trowel and sword together, least finding hard tempests we retire and recoil with shame. And what makes us so secure, but that we think that Christian profession is but a sleight? And to go further, why comes it to pas•e, that oft disputing Preachers in conflicts are confounded, and most courageous ch•me subtle▪ o•• t•e vilest dastards, but from hence, that they trust in themselves? But ô mali• of the •n, ô corruption of natur•• if thou, Satan, canst not make us •o presume, thou wilt extremity to despair; ô vile nature, thy presuming is the way to despairing. And to speak of this latter extremity, which is the less curable evil, if Satan meet with us as having a ight of our weakness, sure he will bring us to despair. It is a sure temptation to hindere he (which elif n perfection is as hard as to fulfil the law) and it is Satan's practise, he once see us down, he will keep us down, & answer all our wants.