A02178:3585
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.
The want of these causeth men to step back, and the weakness of our faith & the carelessness of these causeth such fear in Gods children, and such shrinking: for the devil layeth their sins to their charge, which they see not discharged, and their faith is weak, and therefore they are diving up and down. And surely trouble must come to all, for so it is ordained, though to some less than others: and therefore when it cometh, we are faint, if we have not been careful to keep a good conscience, and to strengthen our faith. But if we have done thus, then shall death be pleasant unto us, for we shall be blessed, Apoc. 12. and our works shall follow us, that is, our faith and the fruits of our faith.
The want of these causeth men to step backe, and the weakenes of our faith & the carelesnes of these causeth such feare in Gods children, and such shrinking: for the diuel layeth their sinnes to their charge, which they see not discharged, and their faith is weake, and therefore they are diuing vp and down. And surely trouble must come to all, for so it is ordained, though to some lesse than others: and therefore when it commeth, we are faint, if we haue not been carefull to keepe a good conscience, and to strengthen our faith. But if we haue done thus, then shall death be pleasant vnto vs, for wee shall be blessed, Apoc. 12. and our workes shall follow vs, that is, our faith and the fruites of our faith.
Again if we suffer for our sins &c. then we want faith and a good conscience, and therefore we murmur and cry out, yea and go to witches and wizards. Yea Gods children, though they come not to this gross sinning, yet they inwardly grudge, and they have secret murmurings, because they have failed in strengthening their faith, & keeping a good conscience: but the children of God that make Christ all in all, they say the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, this is the patience of Gods children. And Job did not fail, till his faith failed: and though his three learned adversaries reasoned against him to prove him an hypocrite, yet his conscience sustained him, and therefore reckoneth up his virtues, chapter 28. and 31. And he also confessed his faith, I know that my Redeemer liveth: this was his faith, and this was his conscience that in his trouble sustained him.