A02178:3448
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. 134. Deliver me from the oppression of men, and I will keep •hy precepts.
Vers. 134. Deliuer me from the oppression of men, and I will keepe •hy precepts.
AS we have oft declared, it is the lot of Gods children to be troubled with the ungodly, and therefore this man setteth himself down as a pattern therein, and seeing the Lord Jesus hath made himself a chief example in the house of example, who is our head; it is mere that we who are his members should also suffer troubles, that we may be made like unto him. What is the cause then, why we are so much at quiet with our selves, both Minister and Magistrate, people and subject; but because we do not so much resist Satan, fight against the world, & strive against our selves. For we beginning to rebuke the world1 of sin, the world cannot away with us; and when we stir up our selves against the devil, he setteth himself and all his imps against us, and when we check and control our selves, we can never find quiet. True it is, that sometimes we shall have quiet; but this is but a breathing time; yet that must be fulfilled in the members, which was begun in the head, that we being like to him in suffering, may also be like to him in glory, remembering always that which is in Psalm 125. The rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous. So that the man of God prayeth here, that his affliction might not hinder his glory. And no marvel, for his enemies first laboured to daunt his faith, then they went about to load him with injuries, either subtly to circumvent him, or openly to oppress him: when these things would not serve, they strived to bring his person to contempt, and his cause to discredit, as also they went about to bring themselves into estimation, and their cause into credit. No marvel then though he thus prayed, least that they resisting him too long, he should be overmatched. Wherein we are to learn, that we must not overcome ill with ill, subtlety with subtlety, violence by violence, but by prayer. And seeing the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the just, and his eyes upon them that fear him, seeing his ears are shut to the wicked, and he will not look upon them in mercy, but his face is set against them, the Lord undoubtedly will hear us, and look upon us, and will confound our enemies.