A02178:3793
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.
According to thy Word. These words will bear a double interpretation: for either the meaning of them is, give me understanding, which is according to the prescript truth of thy holy Word; or else, according as thou hast promised in the Word, to them that by prayer ask it of thee. But because this latter sense comprehendeth the former, I more willingly embrace the latter. For if God help us according to his promise, it is doubtless according to his word, for he promiseth nothing which is not agreeable with his word. Besides; this may be proved by that with is added in the verse following, where he saith, according to thy promise.
According to thy Word. These wordes will beare a double interpretation: for either the meaning of them is, giue me vnderstanding, which is according to the prescript truth of thy holy Word; or else, according as thou hast promised in the Worde, to them that by prayer aske it of thee. But because this latter sense comprehendeth the former, I more willingly embrace the latter. For if God helpe vs according to his promise, it is doubtles according to his word, for hee promiseth nothing which is not agreeable with his word. Besides; this may be pr•ued by that wich is added in the verse following, where hee saith, according to thy promise.
Now in that he repeateth the same thing, he showeth, that certainly God hath promised to help and relieve his necessity. Neither must we think that this promise was made to David alone, who alone had not such infirmities, but he speaketh as a member of the Church: for the promise appertaineth to the Church, & to all in the Church universally; Howbeit, look what the Lord had promised to all generally, he applieth to himself particularly.1 For we may see both in this Psalm, Port 17▪ 2. The entrance into thy word showeth light, and giveth understanding to the simple; as also Psal. 19. 7. The testimony of the Lord is sure, and giveth light to the simple: that the promise is general, and as well appertaineth to us as to him. So that the meaning of this latter part is nothing else but this; as thou hast promised to give knowledge to them that seek it, so Lord give it me: for I thus seek it. Thus we see how needful it is to have knowledge of God his word, seeing none obtain but they that pray, according as God hath promised in his word, according to that