A02178:3888
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.
The second rule to examine our hearts is, to take heed unto our joy and our grief, our1 hope and our fear: for whatsoever our hearts are most set upon, we will be most glad when we have gotten it, we will be most fearful of loosing it, and most greatly grieved when we have lost it. By this rule we may see how our hearts stand affected in any thing we go about, or in any time wherein we live. As for example, in seeking riches, honour, promotion, or glory, if we are most comforted when we have great hope to obtain them, if we be most cheerful when we have gotten them; if we be most afraid least we loose them, and if we could be contented to forgo any thing, rather than them, verily our hearts are most set upon riches, upon glory, upon honour, dignity, and promotion. Again, if •e be most desirous of our salvation; if we can most heartily rejoice, when we2 have gotten assurance of it; if we be sore afraid of all those things which might put us in danger of loosing it, if no greater grief can be fall us, than when we feel not the comfort of it, a most certain argument we may hereby gather, that our hearts do stand very rightly affected to our salvation: contrariwise, have we no desire to seek after it? have we but small love of the means whereby we may attain unto it? then surely we are more carnal then spiritual; yea, it may be well doubted that we are altogether earthly, we seek not the things that are above. The like may be seen in all other things: Art thou glad and cheerful when thou receivest some profit, and heavy hearted when thou shouldest be thankful? Art thou sorry when thou receivest any loss, and without all sorrow when thou hast sinned? Art thou angry when thou art wronged, and not at all displeased when thou hast done open injury to the High GOD? Where is thy heart? where is thy uprightness? it is gone, wickedness hath bewitched thee, and thy own corruption hath made thee careless. In heaping up thy riches, thou sayest thou art not covetous, because thou givest to every one his own, and takest nothing but that the Law will give thee. ⟨p. 620⟩But all this thou mayest do, and yet be covetous: if then thou wouldest know they heart thou mayest hereby try it. If thou be ever musing how thou mayest get thy goods: