A02178:3335
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.
Herein then appeared the true virtue of the faith of this man of God; because, whilst no wickedness is offered, many will do well; but after often trial with injuries, they execute neither judgement nor justice; so that where this faith wanteth, there is no true love of judgement and justice: besides here we are to mark, that that is a true prayer, which cometh from the true feeling, and deep sense of his heart; and without this, well set, long, and loud prayers prevail not. For such prayers cry loud in the Lords ears, which make a noise with the feeling of our wants, and when, though they continue to the failing1 of our eyes, yet we mistrust not God. For many either pray coldly, or praying zealously, they become so dull, that they cease to put their trust in the Lord. So that the corruption of our nature, is either not to feel our wants, or if we feel them, to despair.
Herein then appeared the true vertue of the faith of this man of God; because, whilest no wickednesse is offered, many will doe well; but after often triall with iniuries, they execute neither iudgement nor iustice; so that where this faith wanteth, there is no true loue of iudgement and iustice: besides heere we are to marke, that that is a true prayer, which commeth from the true feeling, and deepe sense of his heart; and without this, well set, long, and lowd prayers preuaile not. For such prayers crie lowd in the Lords eares, which make a noise with the feeling of our wants, and when, though they continue to the failing1 of our eyes, yet we mistrust not God. For many either pray coldly, or praying zealously, they become so dull, that they cease to put their trust in the Lord. So that the corruption of our nature, is either not to feele our wants, or if we feele them, to dispaire.
- 1Feeling of wants.
For thy just promise: Here we see how the Prophet prayeth, not according to his own fantasy, but according to the will of God revealed in his word. When we desire any thing of God, we must do it according to his promise. For when we pray not according to the promise of the Lord, we wait upon our own fantasies, and seek after our own imaginations. Many break in their prayers into heady and rash conceits, who have not in the mean time the word in their hearts; but they obtain nothing: neither shall we obtain, if we be like affected unto them. Ye know, saith S. John, ye shall obtain, if ye ask according to the will of God.