A02178:2288
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.
And the children of God know and acknowledge, that without the blessing and favour of God their meat may bring their bane: and therefore they crave that by the word and prayer the means may be sanctified unto them; much more in things concerning our salvation we must both carefully use the means, and in the using of them not to trust in the outward work wrought, but to crave the inward ministry of God his holy spirit, which worketh by them, not being ordained for God but for us.
And the children of God know and acknowledge, that without the blessing and fauour of God their meate may bring their bane: and therefore they craue that by the word and prayer the meanes may be sanctified vnto them; much more in things concerning our saluation we must both carefully vse the meanes, and in the vsing of them not to trust in the outward worke wrought, but to craue the inward ministerie of God his holy spirit, which worketh by them, not being ordained for God but for vs.
For in thee do I trust. Here the Prophet setteth down the cause why he prayeth to God: whereby he declareth, that none can truly call upon God unless they believe: Rom. 10. 14. How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? In regard whereof as he prayeth to God to be his Saviour, so he is fully assured that God will be his Saviour. If then without faith we cannot truly call upon God, the men of this world rather prate like Parrots, than pray like Christians, at what time they utter these words. For that they trust not in God, they declare both by neglecting the lawful means, and also in using unlawful means. Some we see trust in friends: some shoulder out (as they think) the cross with their goods: some fence themselves with authority: others bathe and •aste themselves in pleasures to put the evil day far from them: others make flesh their arm: and others make the •edge of gold their confidence: and these men when they seek for help at the Lord, mean in their hearts to find it in their friends, good authority and pleasure, howsoever for fear they dare not say this outwardly. Again, here we are to observe under what shelter we may harbour our selves in the showers of adversity, even under the protection of the Almighty. And why? Who so dwelleth in the secret of the most high, shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty. And here in effect is showed, that whosoever putteth his trust in God shall be preserved: otherwise the Prophet his reason here had not been good. Besides, we see he pleadeth not by merit, but sueth by faith, teaching us, that if we come with like faith, we may obtain the like deliverance.