A02178:3457
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. 135. Show the light of thy countenance upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes.
Vers. 135. Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant, and teach me thy statutes.
Until his deliverance came, the Prophet of God prayeth to be taught in the statutes of the Lord, whereby he might learn to behave himself well in the time of trouble. For affliction is so violent a storm, and carrieth away a man so headlong, that unless the Lord guide us, we may soon take hurt. But what desire we most? If we in sickness delight most in the sweet face and gracious countenance of the Lord, it is happiness: if not, we are truly in misery. For this is the cause why many go from evil to worse in their trouble, and become so dull, because they never pray to see the cause of their affliction, and that they might profit thereby.
VNtill his deliuerance came, the Prophet of God prayeth to be taught in the statutes of the Lord, whereby he might learne to behaue himselfe well in the time of trouble. For affliction is so violent a storme, and carrieth away a man so headlong, that vnlesse the Lord guide vs, we may soone take hurt. But what desire we most? If we in sicknes delight most in the sweete face and gratious countenance of the Lord, it is happinesse: if not, we are truely in miserie. For this is the cause why many goe from euill to worse in their trouble, and become so dull, because they neuer pray to see the cause of their affliction, and that they might profit thereby.
The sense of the man of God is: If Lord, thou wilt deliver me, I shall obey thee more; if not, Lord give me strength to glorify thee by patience. Away then with the violence of flesh and blood, which maketh us to some out these and such like speeches: Who could away with such pangs as I suffer? who could suffer such pains as I am in? Surely even they that pray to God to profit by them, they have Gods spirit: as for the wicked they cannot profit thereby. If then we be delivered out of adversity, we must obey the word; if not, we must crave wisdom to see the will of God, constancy to abide in it, patience meekly and thankfully to suffer whatsoever the Lord shall lay upon us. I care not (saith the man of God) so much for my liberty, as I might thereby praise thy name, and obey thy commandments. This is an usual thing in the book of God, to pray for the Lords countenance: