A02178:3453
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 have often heard, that our two principal props in trouble are faith in the promises1 of God, and a testimony of a good conscience, which we see often to be in this Prophet. Wherefore what doth fasten and comfort faith? even a good conscience: what doth make it wither and waver? even because we have been fruitless, and have not done good works. This then must be our comfort in trouble, that we suffer not as ill doers, that we may look for Gods promises. But if our sins accuse us, and we suffer as ill doers, we shall not be able to feel any comfort in God his promises.
We haue often heard, that our two principall props in trouble are faith in the promises1 of God, and a testimonie of a good conscience, which wee see often to be in this Prophet. Wherefore what doth fasten and comfort faith? euen a good conscience: what doth make it wither and wauer? euen because we haue been fruitles, and haue not done good workes. This then must be our comfort in trouble, that we suffer not as ill doers, that we may look for Gods promises. But if our sinnes accuse vs, and we suffer as ill doers, wee shall not bee able to feele any comfort in God his promises.
- 1Two principal props in trouble.Two principall props in trouble.
Then let us see the fruit of this prayer. The Saints of God and dear Martyrs of Christ made this prayer before us, the fruit and effect whereof is grown unto us. For their sufferings were our prosperity, their loss our gain, their imprisonment our liberty, their death our life: as true as old is that saying proved, The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church. For their blood hath cried up to heaven, with the blood of Abel, for our comfort, and brought down vengeance on our enemies, and obtained mercy for us. They did sow in tears, and we have entered into their harvest with joy, let us beware least we sow evil to our selves, and for others: they sowed comfort for their posterity, let us take heed that we sow not discomfort for them that shall come after us. And as their death hath stayed the wrath of God from heaven, that it is not fallen upon the vine, & seeing many years he hath planted among us a vineyard, seeing he hath hedged it, and gathered out the stones