A02178:2423
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
Part 3 › Sermon 14 › Section 4: The fourth part of the danger for not doing these duties faithfully.
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.
Thus have we learned first how necessary a thing it is to have Ministers in the Church of God, because without them the people should be as sheep without a shepherd, ready to be devoured of their adversary the devil: secondly, that the Lord hath appointed them to this use, by them to call together the number of them that shall be saved by the preaching of the word, wherewith he hath given them power to open heaven to all believers, and to give as good assurance of their salvation by the word, as if Jesus Christ himself were present to certify the same; and on the contrary to shut out all the unpenitent from1 the kingdom of heaven, and to bind them over to everlasting woe, which they shall be so sure of as they see the light that shineth in the day. And therefore it behoveth all such as desire to be saved to learn the way to salvation of them, and to hearken unto them, for because the Lord hath appointed no other means in the world for to attain to the knowledge thereof, and hath said plainly, that whosoever will not believe the truth at their hands shall not believe though one should come from heaven to tell them who shall be saved, and another from hell to tell them who are damned.
Thus haue we learned first how necessary a thing it is to haue Ministers in the Church of God, because without them the people should be as sheepe without a shepheard, ready to be deuoured of their aduersary the diuell: secondly, that the Lord hath appointed them to this vse, by them to call together the number of them that shall be saued by the preaching of the word, wherewith he hath giuen them power to open heauen to all beleeuers, and to giue as good assurance of their saluation by the word, as if Iesus Christ himselfe were present to certifie the same; and on the contrary to shut out all the vnpenitent from1 the kingdome of heauen, and to binde them ouer to euerlasting woe, which they shall be so sure of as they see the light that shineth in the day. And therfore it behoueth all such as desire to be saued to learne the way to saluation of them, and to harken vnto them, for because the Lord hath appointed no other meanes in the world for to attaine to the knowledge thereof, and hath said plainely, that whosoeuer will not beleeue the truth at their hands shall not beleeue though one should come from heauen to tell them who shall be saued, and another from hell to tell them who are damned.