A02178:228
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.
2 As we are careful to use the means of our salvation, so must we wholly refer the blessing of the means to the grace of God: neither, as some do, think that we can obtain1 or continue the graces of God in us without using the means, (for that is but a dream of fantastical spirits) neither, as the manner of some is, so to trust to the means, as neglecting to pray for the grace of God in them: which is but a preposterous zeal of such as are not rightly instructed in the way of their salvation.
2 As we are carefull to vse the meanes of our saluation, so must we wholy referre the blessing of the meanes to the grace of God: neither, as some doe, thinke that we can obtaine1 or continue the graces of God in vs without vsing the meanes, (for that is but a dreame of fantasticall spirits) neither, as the manner of some is, so to trust to the meanes, as neglecting to pray for the grace of God in them: which is but a preposterours zeale of such as are not rightly instructed in the way of their saluation.
- 1Perseverance in the use of the means.Perseuerāce in the vse of the meanes.
3 It is a profitable note to observe, when extraordinary gifts of God be for our good, and when for our hurt. If our extraordinary blessings drive us more carefully to seek to1 the ordinary means, then it is of Gods mercy: but if they slacken our care in the ordinary means, and puffing us up with a spiritual pride, cause us to rest in them, then they are for our further condemnation: as if God bless us marvellously without prayer in any thing, if we are driven more to prayer by it, then this is of God: if it cause us to leave prayer, it is perilous.