A02178:3871
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
Part 4 › MEDITATIONS ON PROV. 4. VERS: 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 2… › Part
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. 21. Let them not depart from thine eyes: but keep them in the middest of thine heart.
Vers. 21. Let them not depart from thine eyes: but keepe them in the middest of thine heart.
IN these words is a third charge given unto us, and that is this, that we should make a profitable use for our selves in the reading of the word, and in beholding of the creatures: for both these ways we may win great and good strength to overcome our corruption, and both these exercises are in the word commended unto us. The fourth and last precept is contained in the latter end of the verse in these words: Keep them in the middest of thine heart. In this precept is prescribed the manner of the using and doing of the former duties: for all of them must be done with the heart, we must give attendance to the word, not only with the stillness and quietness of the outward members, but we must also be attentive with our hearts, we must hear the word read, preached, and conferred of, not with our outward ears alone, but also with our very hearts. We are not to rest in the simple reading of the word, or the bare beholding of the creatures: but we must labour for a fourth thing, we must look that our hearts be present, when we either read the word, or behold the creatures. And yet there is a further thing to be here observed: for by1 this commandment we are charged to lay up in our hearts all the profit which we learn by these means. It is not sufficient to use them, it is not enough to feel some present use and profit by them: but we must lay up in our hearts whatsoever gain we get, that we may be stored and prepared for the time to come. This must be done by prayer and meditations; for if we pray fervently before, after, and in the using of these means: and if after we have used them, we do diligently meditate upon them, both that we may be confirmed in each duty, and also that we way apply them to our own particular & private use: then undoubtedly God will give a blessing to his means rightly used, and will write the fruit of them in our hearts, yea the Lord will give a further blessing unto them; life unto us, and health unto our flesh, as it followeth in the 22. verse, which before hath been expounded.