A02178:3821
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.
Vers. 174. I have longed for thy salvation O Lord, and thy law is my delight.
Vers. 174. I haue longed for thy saluation O Lord, and thy law is my delight.
The man of God goeth on forward in showing his unfeigned affection to the word, and therefore here he showeth, both how he longed for it, and also how in the mean time he slayeth himself. It might seem a general speech, & of less importance which he useth here: for who is so far gone, and hath so small hope of recovery, that cannot say, he longeth for his salvation? for we read that even Balaam desired to be saved, and the most wicked in their life time will have many wishes of their salvation. What notable thing then is there here in the man of God? true it is, that the Lord wringeth out thus much often even out of the mouth of the wicked, unto whom he imparteth so much of his right and goodness, that they see what they should do & desire, but yet in truth they do it not, in that their desire is so short and slender. When we see then that all their wishing and praying cometh to nothing, it is sure they are but hypocrites. Again, they will say they long for salvation, but they will not use the means thereunto: as if one should say he longed for bread, and pray daily, give us this day our daily bread; and yet they will either walk in no calling, or else get it by fraud & rapine, not staying themselves at all on Gods providence, but they long rather for other things joined with Gods glory, than for God his will, howsoever in the mean season they make the help of God their pretence: so it is in the spiritual estate of the soul; for although Idolaters, heretics, and hypocrites say, that they long for their salvation: yet they long indeed for their profit, pleasure, glory, and self-love. For if they longed for that salvation which is of God, they would not so follow their own dreams, revelations, and superstitions, but use those means of the word, which the Lord himself hath appointed. As for profane Professors, they will indeed say as much as the other: but bring them to the word, to prayer, to the Sacraments, and to discipline, ye ⟨p. 605⟩