A02178:3349
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.
His prayer is the selfsame, which in effect Christ taught his Disciples, commanding them to pray, Lord increase our faith; that is, Lord increase our faith in the assurance of our justification, according to thy statutes, in the feeling of our sanctification: according to thy covenants. So we see now, that as the man of God prayed before, for a further understanding of the statutes of the Lord, so here he prayeth for a further understanding of his testimonies. The Saints of God did never so brag of their gifts of knowledge and faith, but that1 they still acknowledged and lamented in themselves the remnants of ignorance and incredulity, and desired the remedy of them by prayer.
His prayer is the selfesame, which in effect Christ taught his Disciples, commaunding them to pray, Lord increase our faith; that is, Lord increase our faith in the assurance of our iustification, according to thy statutes, in the feeling of our sanctification: according to thy couenants. So we see now, that as the man of God praied before, for a further vnderstanding of the statutes of the Lord, so heere he praieth for a further vnderstanding of his testimonies. The Saints of God did neuer so brag of their gifts of knowledge and faith, but that1 they still acknowledged and lamented in themselues the remnants of ignorance and incredulitie, and desired the remedie of them by praier.
- 1The Saints ever bewail the remnants of ignorance and incredulity. PerseveranceThe Saints euer bewaile the remnants of ignorance and incredulitie. Perseuerance
This ought to be for our instruction, that though we be not conscious in our selves of any gross disobedience, or palpable unbelief; yet we must pray for a further sight of the law, & finding our unbelief, we must crave of God that we may be more stayed in his promises. Perseverance is an excellent thing, especially when Gods promises are delayed, and we in greatest danger, then is the sure trial both of our knowledge and faith. We are also taught here, that whatsoever good things we have, we have them not, as to lock them up in our possession, but seeing we may shrink away and make shipwreck both of faith and a good conscience, we must pray to have a greater knowledge of the statutes of the Lord, and a greater faith in his promises. And here is to be noted, how the Prophet desiring a greater knowledge of Gods testimonies: he doth not so much desire any corporal relief against his enemies, as spiritual resistance against his unbelief, teaching us, that in peril we should especially crave the true understanding of Gods will, that having gotten that, we may have all other things, as it shall please the Lord. Here we see a great difference