A02178:3717
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.
But they will thus say: we ask not counsel of the devil as you charge us: yea, but1 God his word so saith, that he that goeth to witches and wizards, goes to ask counsel of the devil. Again as we said before, for want of this fear, we see, how impudent sinners are in those things, which civill Laws do not restrain, fearing even punishment more then Gods judgement. He that feareth God is no thief; why? because mans law saith, ⟨p. 582⟩that he that stealeth shall be hanged? no but because Gods Law saith, Thou shalt not steal. Though the place be never so secret where he may sin, although i• be no manifest unrighteousness, and gross injury, yet if it were but to deny the last thing, which were right and due, the child of God both feareth punishment of God, if he had done it, or if he have not done it, he trembleth to do it. And Saint James he reasoneth thus: that he that hath commanded one thing hath also commanded another: and he that forbiddeth one thing, hath forbidden another. And surely howsoever mans law punisheth one, and dispenseth with another sin, yet the word of God rewardeth all obedience, and punisheth all disobedience. So that he that hath said as well, Thou shalt not commit adultery, as, Thou shalt not do murder, hath as well pronounced the shutting of the kingdom of heaven against adulterers, as against murderers, 1. Cor. 6. which thing Gods children knowing, make as great a conscience of swearing, banning, cursing, breaking of the Sabbath, drunkenness, adultery and lying, which in mans law escape scot free; as of theft, which by Civill law is adjudged worthy of death: because that God that saith, Thou shalt not steal; he also saith, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain: thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath, &c. Suppose they that those things are not forbidden by the law of God, which are not prohibited by the law of man? Then no marvel though there be so few thieves, and so many Sabbath breakers; why there be so few murderers, and so many swearers: because men abstain from theft and murder, for fear of temporal punishment, and men have no care to eschew swearing & profaning of God his Sabbath; because they fear no external punishment. See here is mens conscience, here is their religion, this is their devotion.