A02178:3486
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 so the meanest people by the word of God were wiser than the mighty Princes, and the great Princes were more doltish than the common people, when they asked not counsel of the Lord. The promise which our Saviour Christ useth, Matth. 10. 19. When they deliver you up, take no thought how not what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall say. This promise is not made only to the Evangelists, Apostles, Disciples, Doctors or Magistrates; but to all whomsoever the Lord shall call, to give such testimony of his name. And we know by experience, how this was not only performed in the Primitive Church, but also in the dear Saints and Martyrs of God of late memory in Queen Mary's reign, who did strive against sin, to the shedding of their blood; who all as we see, were wiser than their enemies. Neither was there any other cause, why he was wiser than his teachers, but that by meditation he not resting in the book cases and general doctrine of his teachers, applied their general rules to his particular state. Likewise we, if we do not stay our selves in the general things, which we hear or read; but bring the general things into particulars, singulars and practises, shall be wiser, though happily not learneder, than our teachers. Thirdly, he was wiser than the ancient, in that they made shipwreck of faith, and of a good conscience, notwithstanding their knowledge: whereas he laboured to bring his good learning to good living, and his knowledge to a good conscience. We see at this day, how old ancient Protestants grow not in spiritual understanding, because they put not in practise the things which they have known. On the other side, we are not to go far, but may observe in our age, how young men, unto whom the Lord hath made old men as glasses & examples of our infirmities least they fall, coming ⟨p. 540⟩with […] & •el••e to practise t•at which they •••te, are […] and are more able to instruct the ignorant, & to comfort them that […] the age• ▪ W•••o•er then will labour to bring the rules into life which he […]y pects he shall be at the lat wier, if not more learned, than the ancient […]es.