A02178:3262
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. 114. Thou art my refuge and shield, and I trust in thy word.
Because the Prophet could not persuade himself of any other safety, than of the safe•••• which he had under the Lord, he showeth that so long as he put his trust in Gods […]s, he feared nothing. And surely this ought to be the principal thing among Christians▪ to look for none other defence, than that which is to be looked for out of the promises of God. For what is the cause, why when we are in danger, in poverty, in any distress, we have so many by-paths, and can invent unlawful means and shifts so for our deliverance, but only because the Lord and his word is not our refuge and our shield? For if we were once persuaded, that God were our tower to defend us, and our shield to cover us, we should be stayed. If we then call on God in our need, we must know, that Psal. 33. vers. 18. The eye of the Lord is upon them, that fear him, and upon them that trust in his mercies. And that Psal. 145. 18. He will fulfil the desire of them, that fear him, he also will hear their cry, and will save them. And our cause being good, we need not to doubt of him: for1 he hath promised to be our shield and buckler. So our Saviour Christ being tempted of Satan to turn the stones into bread, was moved by him to distrust Gods providence: What (saith he) doest thou think, that if thou wert the Son of God, thou shouldest be left in such wants? make some shift therefore for thy self. But Christ knowing God to be the author of his need, was assured that he would secretly nourish him, until he had received ordinary means again, and so strengthened himself in Gods promises. Likewise, when we are in need or in peril, Satan will cause us to use one shift or other: but we must answer him, The Lord is my shield and tower, I am sure enough; and therefore I hate all ill inventions; I put my trust in the Lord.