A02178:2687
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.
A man in this Desertion, can discern no difference between himself and a cast-away: and the rather if with this Desertion be joined a feeling of Gods anger: for then ariseth the bitterest temptation that ever befell the poor soul of a Christian man, and that is a wrestling and struggling in spirit and conscience, not with the motions of a rebelling flesh, nor the accusation of the Devil, which are oftentimes very irksome and terrible, but against the wrath of a revenging God. This hidden and spiritual temptation more tormenteth the spirit of man, then all the racks or gibbets in the world can do. And it hath his fits after the manner of an ague, in which even Gods own servants overcarried with sorrow, may blaspheme God, and cry out that they are damned. Job was in this estate: as he testifieth, Oh that my grief were weighed (saith he) and my miseries were laid together in the balla•ce: 1for it would be heavier then the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up, for the arrows of the Almighty are in me, the venom thereof doth drink up my spirit, & the terrors of God fight against me. And further, he complains that the Lord is ahis enemy, that he bsets him as a But to •••••e at. This was Davids temptation when he said, cO Lord rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chastise me in thy wrath, have mercy upon me O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord heal me, for my bones are vexed, my soul is also sore troubled: but Lord how long wilt thou delay? Return O Lord, deliver my soul, save me for thy mercies sake.
A man in this Desertion, can discerne no difference betweene himselfe and a cast-away: and the rather if with this Desertion be ioyned a feeling of Gods anger: for then ariseth the bitterest temptation that euer befell the poore soule of a Christian man, and that is a wrastling and strugling in spirit and conscience, not with the motions of a rebelling flesh, nor the accusation of the Diuell, which are oftentimes very irkesome and terrible, but against the wrath of a reuenging God. This hiddden and spirituall temptation more tormenteth the spirit of man, then all the rackes or gibbets in the world can do. And it hath his fits after the māner of an ague, in which euen Gods own seruants ouercarried with sorrow, may blaspheme God, and cry out that they are damned. Iob was in this estate: as hee testifieth, Oh that my griefe were weyed (saith he) and my miseries were layd together in the ballace: