A02178:3776
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.
Shall we then assure our selves, that we be persuaded indeed that God doth behold us, let us search our hearts whether we have these or the like affections. For dare a subject in the presence of his prince commit any thing against the laws for fear of a check, or rather will he not be careful in the eyes of his sovereign to do all things to his liking and contentation? Dare a good child in the presence of his father willingly break his commandment for fear of controlment, or will he not rather endeavour to be very dutiful for hope of commendation? Then doubtless without this care and fear we receive our souls with this drowsy dream and vain persuasion of Gods beholding us. Wherefore how dare •h• heretics, papists and family of love, persuade themselves to walk before the Lord, seeing they have not submitted themselves to his word, which is the only instrume•• that maketh naked the conscience of man, as it is Heb. 4. 12. The word of God is lively and […] operation, &c. and it is added in the verse following; Neither is there any creatur• ▪ which is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and open unto his eyes. So that they wh••• are not truly instructed in the word, cannot truly have their sins laid naked▪ and they which have not their sins laid open, cannot in the fear of God forsal•e their corruptions. Wherefore in like manner all ignorant persons may persuade themselves, that they please God and walk before him in care and fear, but they do but deceive their own souls. But if we can truly say this, with pure trial of it in our hearts, it is most certain, it will serve in stead of an hundred rules besides for the right direction and holy government of our lives.
Shall we then assure our selues, that wee bee perswaded indeede that God doth beholde vs, let vs search our hearts whether we haue these or the like affections. For dare a subiect in the presence of his prince commit any thing against the lawes for feare of a checke, or rather will he not be carefull in the eyes of his soueraigne to do all things to his liking and contentation? Dare a good childe in the presence of his father willingly breake his commaundement for feare of controlment, or will he not rather endeuour to bee very dutiful for hope of commendation? Then doubtlesse without this care and feare wee receiue our soules with this drowsie dreame and vaine perswasion of Gods beholding vs. Wherefore how dare h heretikes, papists and family of loue, perswade thēselues to walke before the Lord, seeing they haue not submitted themselues to his word, which is the onely instrume that maketh naked the conscience of man, as it is