A02178:3450
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.
And I will keep thy testimonies. Behold, the man of God promiseth thankfulness, and if it pleaseth the Lord to free him from these evils, he would keep his law, not that we must think, that he before did break them: but though the proud had him exceedingly in derision, Psal. 51. though the bands of the wicked had robbed him, 61. though the proud had imagined a lye against him, 69. though they had dealt wickedly and falsely with him, 78. though they had almost consumed him upon the earth, 87. and he was like the bottle in the smoke; so that he was wonderfully distracted in his calling: yet if the Lord would vouchsafe to free him from these evils, as before in part; so now in whole, he would bestow his life on the Lord.
And I will keepe thy testimonies. Behold, the man of God promiseth thankefulnes, and if it pleaseth the Lord to free him from these euils, hee would keepe his law, not that we must thinke, that he before did breake them: but though the proude had him exceedingly in derision, Psal. 51. though the bands of the wicked had robbed him, 61. though the proude had imagined a lye against him, 69. though they had dealt wickedly and falsely with him, 78. though they had almost consumed him vpon the earth, 87. and he was like the bottle in the smoke; so that hee was wonderfully distracted in his calling: yet if the Lord would vouchsafe to free him from these euils, as before in part; so now in whole, he would bestow his life on the Lord.
We are then to learn, that in trouble we are to desire to none other end to be delivered,1 than the better and more freely to serve the Lord, and that when we have made so solemn a promise to the Lord, we throughly purpose in trueth to perform it. For though affliction of it self helpeth us nothing unto godliness, but is rather some hindrance why in our calling we are less profitable; yet as it is sanctified in Christ, and receiveth a blessing from God to work in us, it keepeth us from evil, and provoketh us the more to do good. But we, if we be in adversity, if we have trouble or loss of goods, or loss of friends, oppression of enemies, or such like, make large vows and plentiful promises, and cry: Oh if I might be delivered from this sickness, if I might be freed from this trouble, if I might be unburdened of this evil; I would surely serve the Lord, I would become a new man, I would change my life, and enter the ways of repentance: but we look not to performance.