A02178:3120
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.
Vers. 100. I understood more than the ancient, because I kept thy precepts.
Vers. 100. I vnderstood more than the ancient, because I kept thy precepts.
IT followeth: I understood more than the ancient, &c. As we have heard of the glorious effects of the word in this man of God, how he excelled his foes in policy, and his teachers in wisdom: so now he showeth, how he went before his elders in prudence and understanding. He was wiser than his enemies. Why? because in all his attempts, deliberated not with flesh and blood, but asked counsel of the Lord, by the word and by prayer. He excelled his teachers in good learning: wherefore? because he contented not himself1 to stay on the naked rules by them delivered, but further laboured with his conscience, to make the use of them profitable to himself. He over-reached his ancients: Why? because he ever had a special care to keep a true faith, and a good conscience, whereof many had made shipwreck. Whereof then cometh it to pass, that the scholar is often better than his master? cometh it not from hence, because the Lord worketh according to his will, and bestoweth like effects where like means are used, blesseth and curseth, depresseth and raiseth up, according to the using, and not using of necessary means? By meditation the judgement of the godly is refined, by musing the wicked grow by high degrees2 to the mystery of iniquity. For as they be much given to this kind of occupying their minds: so Satan doth most thereby convey himself into them, putting such platforms and devices into their head, that otherwise were wonderful to come into a mortal mans mind. So then they, that do not rest in hearing and reading, but endeavour by meditation to find and draw out an use of it in themselves, wonderfully do profit, and mightily excel others. Let us not rest in our oversights, but stir up and provoke our affections to take a new view of those things which we have heard, whereby we may gather more unto our selves, than that which we have heard. And why? Man is a creature reasonable, and by