A02178:2672
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.
Against an utter desertion in this kind David prayeth in this place, and according to S. Augustine, is in effect thus much. O Lord, if, lest I should be proud, and should say in my prosperity I shall never be removed, it pleased thee to tempt me, yet forsake me not overlong: that is, if thou have thus forsaken me, that I may know how weak I am without thine assist me, yet forsake me not utterly, lest I perish. I know that of thy good will thou hast given me strength, and if thou turnest away thy face from me, I shall forthwith be troubled, O forsake me not, that I perish not. If Christ be a sleep the ship is in danger, and if the Lord absent himself but for a while, we are not able to stand in temptation. And yet it pleaseth the Lord to exercise his deerest servants oftentimes with these desertions. For (as that judicial divine Master1 Perkins observeth, whom I follow in that which followeth) the blessings that God bestoweth on them are of two sorts, either positive or privative: positive, are real graces wrought in the heart, by the spirit of God: privative are such means whereby God preserves2 men from falling into sin; as crosses, desertions. And these in number exceed the first, as long as men do live in this world.
Against an vtter desertion in this kinde Dauid prayeth in this place, and according to S. Augustine, is in effect thus much. O Lord, if, lest I should be proud, and should say in my prosperitie I shall neuer be remoued, it pleased thee to tempt me, yet forsake me not ouerlong: that is, if thou haue thus forsaken me, that I may know how weake I am without thine assist mee, yet forsake me not vtterly, lest I perish. I know that of thy good will thou hast giuen me strength, and if thou turnest away thy face from me, I shall forthwith be troubled, O forsake me not, that I perish not. If Christ be a sleepe the shippe is in danger, and if the Lord absent himselfe but for a while, we are not able to stand in temptation. And yet it pleaseth the Lord to exercise his deerest seruants oftentimes with these desertions. For (as that iudiciall diuine Maister1 Perkins obserueth, whom I follow in that which followeth) the blessings that God bestoweth on them are of two sorts, either positiue or priuatiue: positiue, are reall graces wrought in the heart, by the spirit of God: priuatiue are such meanes whereby God preserues