A02178:3390
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.
They are wonderful then to humane wit, and reason not sanctified, and the more wise men wander in the skies, and hover aloft in vain conceits, and yet have not learned Christ Jesus crucified, have nothing in them, when as poor simple people desirous to be taught, do understand wonderful things. The Prophet saith, Psalm. 78. Hear my word O my people, &c. I will open my mouth in a parable &c. and he addeth afterward, we will not hide them from their children. He calleth them high speeches, and dark sentences to mans capacity; but Gods people can understand them: they are hidden to them that trust too much to their own reason and are revealed unto them that renounce their own reason.
They are wonderfull then to humane wit, and reason not sanctified, and the more wise men wander in the skyes, and houer aloft in vaine conceites, and yet haue not learned Christ Iesus crucified, haue nothing in them, when as poore simple people desirous to be taught, doe vnderstand wonderfull things. The Prophet saith, Psalm. 78. Heare my word O my people, &c. I will open my mouth in a parable &c. and hee addeth afterward, we will not hide them from their children. He calleth them high speeches, and darke sentences to mans capacitie; but Gods people can vnderstand them: they are hidden to them that trust too much to their owne reason and are reuealed vnto them that renounce their owne reason.
Mark here he saith: the […] into thy statutes. Will then the beginning give understanding? what will it do to them that are gone forward in it? what hindereth us, why we go forward no more? but even the too much trusting to our own wits. What? have we such wits in outward matters, and are so gross in matters concerning our salvation? Oh hypocrites saith our Saviour Christ, you can discern the outward seasons, &c. What meaneth then this dullness and deadness in heavenly things, but that men deceive their own souls. For if their wits were sanctified, they would as well conceive spiritual things, as corporal. To do ill, saith Jeremy, this people is wise, but to do good they have no wit. What a curse of God upon our wits is this, that we are so quick in worldly things, and so dull in heavenly things? surely, it is the punishment of the Lord, for the pride of mans reason.