A02178:3190
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.
Now there are two things especially, which hinder us from this practise. First, the subtlety1 of Satan, thus reasoning in us; I would gladly vow, but when I have vowed such a good thing, I am further from performing my vow, than ever I was before. We answer, that this indeed is so, and cometh as a judgement of God for vowing so high a thing unadvisedly and rashly, with a secret presuming of our selves, and not of God, with want of a prayer to the Lord for grace to perform the same, as the Prophet did. For so soon as the Prophet had vowed thus to the Lord, he immediately maketh his prayer, fervently asking of the Lord, that as he had given his heart whole unto him, so he would confirm this grace of his Spirit in him. Now, seeing the Lord hath also promised to cleanse our hearts, and that Jesus Christ is our wisdom and sanctification, and we are become the children of the highest, our meaning is not, that the full performance hereof should be sought for in our selves, but in Christ.
Now there are two things especially, which hinder vs from this practise. First, the subtletie1 of Sathan, thus reasoning in vs; I would gladly vow, but when I haue vowed such a good thing, I am further from performing my vow, than euer I was before. We answere, that this indeede is so, and commeth as a iudgement of God for vowing so high a thing vnaduisedly and rashly, with a secret presuming of our selues, and not of God, with want of a prayer to the Lord for grace to performe the same, as the Prophet did. For so soone as the Prophet had vowed thus to the Lord, he immediatly maketh his prayer, feruently asking of the Lord, that as hee had giuen his heart whole vnto him, so hee would confirme this grace of his Spirit in him. Now, seeing the Lord hath also promised to cleanse our hearts, and that Iesus Christ is our wisedome and sanctification, and wee are become the children of the highest, our meaning is not, that the full performance hereof should bee sought for in our selues, but in Christ.
- 1How we be kept from holy vows.How wee bee kept from holy vowes.