A02178:3126
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 may talk with a great Reader, and there be some good things in him, but talk with an exercised mind, and you shall find in him far greater, and more excellent wisdom. Why do not the old Protestants grow in knowledge, as they grow in age? but because they do not use to meditate. Many men seemed to have good gifts, great knowledge and dexterity of wit, who now are destitute and barren of all these heavenly graces. What is the cause? surely the want of faith, and of a good conscience, doth make us fail1 in many good things: or else the cause may be some secret sin not repented of, why there is such store of ill, and such barrenness of good things. So that the Lord striketh many with such folly, that they which sometimes tasted of the good graces of God, are now become dull heads. Another reason, why old men do not grow in knowledge, is, because the more they have, the more they do desire. Many are so vain and light, that a man shall as soon bring an hog from his haunt, as them from their delights: so the Lord doth make them end their age and life in worldliness, which spend their lives and youths in vanities. If we see one given to vanity, what say we? Oh, there is a witty young man: if we see one given to worldliness, what say we? Oh, there is a jolly thriving fellow: and thus for want of a sanctified wit, and sight, we remain fools and unthrifts in spiritual things.
A man may talke with a great Reader, and there be some good things in him, but talke with an exercised minde, and you shall finde in him farre greater, and more excellent wisedome. Why doe not the old Protestants grow in knowledge, as they grow in age? but because they doe not vse to meditate. Many men seemed to haue good gifts, great knowledge and dexteritie of wit, who now are destitute and barren of all these heauenly graces. What is the cause? surely the want of faith, and of a good conscience, doth make vs faile1 in many good things: or else the cause may be some secret sin not repented of, why there is such store of ill, and such barrennes of good things. So that the Lord striketh many with such follie, that they which sometimes tasted of the good graces of God, are now become dull heads. Another reason, why old men doe not grow in knowledge, is, because the more they haue, the more they doe desire. Many are so vaine and light, that a man shall assoone bring an hogge from his haunt, as them from their delights: so the Lord doth make them end their age and life in worldlines, which spend their liues and youths in vanities. If we see one giuen to vanitie, what say we? Oh, there is a wittie yong man: if we see one giuen to worldlines, what say we? Oh, there is a iolly thriuing fellow: and thus for want of a sanctified wit, and sight, we remaine fooles and vnthrifts in spirituall things.