A02178:3882
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.
Now contrariwise, when our heart is upright with God, when it is sound and sincere, then will the Lord favourably accept of our doings, and through his Son he will count them righteous. Thus if we with a pure heart do leave sin, though the dregs thereof remain with us: if with a good heart to Godward we labour after goodness, though we cannot do the good which we would, this uprightness of our hearts doth please God greatly, and he will surely pardon the other imperfections through Christ. True it is, that no man can say his heart is pure, if he compare it with the rule of Gods word, or with the justice of God: and therefore, who so seeth not great corruptions in his heart, he seeth nothing. Yet the children of God may say, that their hearts are pure by Christ, which by Faith purifieth them, and hath wrought the death of sin in them, though some corruption remain in their hearts.
Now contrariwise, when our heart is vpright with God, when it is sound and sincere, then will the Lord fauourably accept of our doings, and through his Sonne he will count them righteous. Thus if we with a pure heart doe leaue sinne, though the dregs therof remaine with vs: if with a good heart to Godward we labour after goodnes, though wee cannot doe the good which we would, this vprightnes of our hearts doth please God greatly, and he will surely pardon the other imperfections through Christ. True it is, that no man can say his heart is pure, if he compare it with the rule of Gods word, or with the iustice of God: and therefore, who so seeth not great corruptions in his heart, hee seeth nothing. Yet the children of God may say, that their hearts are pure by Christ, which by Faith purifieth them, and hath wrought the death of sinne in them, though some corruption remaine in their hearts.
This doctrine hath two special uses; First, to humble us: secondly, to comfort us. We1 have good cause to be humbled, seeing that it teacheth us, that the very cause of all our sins is in our selves, & cannot be laid upon any other. It is our own corruption which causeth us to sin, whilst it giveth place to the suggestions of Satan, to the policies of perverse