A02178:3358
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.
We are here to learn first, that though at all seasons it be needful to pray, to be guided1 in the true understanding, and due obedience of Gods word: yet then especially, when through the general floods of iniquity all without that especial grace of God, all are like to be carried away. For as common and universal floods sweep all away before them with ⟨p. 512⟩their swift and violent course: so in the common floods of corrupt religion and manners, every man thinks that the best religion, which most men do hold, and that those things are most lawful, which are most usual. But this is a peculiar and special grace of God, to be exempted from that general corruption, as was Enoch, who was preserved to walk before the Lord in that corrupt age; Noah reserved, when all flesh had corrupted his ways; and Lot who lived a just man even among the filthy Sodomites. If then we shall be preserved from corrupt religion, when religion is used but of custom, and not of conscience, when it is used coldly, and there is no heat in it; if when mens manners are generally become corrupt, so that there is no humility, no mercy, no pity, no chastity, no purity, no righteousness, no true dealing, no care of our neighbours credit; we can walk in the love of God, and obedience of his will, doubtless this is a special grace of God. In this sense the Prophet prayed on this sort: Therefore have I doubled my prayer, because I see so little help among men. I cannot see any good example to edify me, Lord help me: It is time for thee O Lord to work, for men have destroyed thy law. We see then how well this dependeth on that which goeth before For in the beginning of this Portion he prayed, that he might not be oppressed of his enemies, now he prayeth that his enemies might be suppressed.
We are here to learne first, that though at all seasons it be needfull to pray, to be guided1 in the true vnderstanding, and due obedience of Gods word: yet then especially, when through the generall floods of iniquitie all without yt especiall grace of God, all are like to be carried away. For as common and vniuersall floods sweepe all away before them with ⟨p. 512⟩