A02178:3723
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 some will say, that this extraordinary joy appertaineth to the Prophet, rather than to us: wherefore let us hear what the holy Ghost speaketh hereof in the Gospel, as Rom. 5. We have peace towards God, and rejoice under the hope of the glory of God. And Philip 4 he calleth it, The peace of God which passeth all understanding: and the Apostle 1. Pet. 1. showing how in the mercy of God we are begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance immortal and undefiled, reserved in heaven for us, biddeth us to rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorious. And Paul 1. Cor. 2. 9. showeth what cause we have to rejoice, because the things which eye hath not seen, neither ear hath heard, neither came into mans heart, are, which God hath prepared for them that love him. These things we see are such as are common to all: why then do Gods children so much rejoice in the word? First, in consideration of their own vile and miserable estates; then in consideration of God his love and Christ his merits for them. For they considering with themselves, that by nature they are nothing but vassal of sin, the bondslaves of the devil, the enemies of God, and fire-brands of hell, and that by Christ they are freed from their sins, set at liberty from Satan, ransomed from hell, and reconciled unto God, and that he will bring unto them the fruit of his death, and benefit of his resurrection, by killing sin in them, and quickening them unto righteousness, & remembering (Colos. 2. 14.) that Christ hath taken away the hand-writing, and fastened it unto his cross, and that every member, through him, hath spoiled the principalities and powers, and led captive the world, the flesh and the devil, and hath made a show of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in the same cross, feel such a joy as never any earthly conquerors felt the like. For look how far greater the victory of sin and Satan is, above the victory of men: so far greater is the joy,1 and more glorious is the triumph of Christians, than of earthly Captains. And as far as the robes of Christ his righteousness are richer than the royal arms of Princes: so far doth the joy of Gods children exceed all the joy of the Princes of this world.