A02178:3545
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.
If we should consider the discredit of Noah, how he was accounted as a gazing stock to the old world; if we should think how Enoch was despised in his time, or how Lot was discredited among the Sodomites, or what contempt Elijah suffered among the Idolaters in the age wherein he lived, with many other holy men, we would think it wonderful. ⟨p. 552⟩Nay, if we would but consider but how this man of God David suffered reproach, contempt and discredit, we should much marvel. First, when he had the rarest gifts of all his brethren, and excelled them in the gifts of God, he was set to keep sheep in the field, when the rest were sent to advance themselves in the wars. Then, when he had slain the Bear, and was come among his brethren, where he saw the uncircumcised Philistine breathing out blasphemy against the Lord, and his people, and through Faith in Gods promises and zeal of the spirit, could not abide him so to blaspheme the living God, marvelling, that his brethren without great indignation should sustain it, he setteth upon the great Goliath, which when his brethren saw, in contempt they asked what that princock could1 do, and tell him, that it were more fit for him to deal with his sheep-hook, then to attempt to fight for so noble a victory. Besides, when as afterwards by his singular dexterity which he had, by playing on the Harp, he had appeased Sauls furious spirit, they could not cease to despise him, and opprobriously said of him, Is not this the son of Ishai? Then being offered one of Sauls daughters in marriage, they mocked him, by disappointing her of her dowry: afterwards, when he should have had the second daughter, who had her dowry appointed and allotted, every clawbacke scorned him; yea Doeg (that was the herdsman) was suffered to slay the children of God: So David was fain to •lie for succour to the Heathen kings, his own men contemning and forsaking him. And yet still he saith, I am small and despised, yet do I not forget thy word. Well, let us see, did not the Lord promote him, after he had thus continued in patience? we know the Lord made his righteousness glorious, and his good name to shine abroad, and his innocency to appear to all men after the death of Saul By faith (saith the Apostle, Hebr. 11. 2.) our Elders were well reported of: whereof some are there said to be tried by mockings and scourgings, vers. 36.