A02178:3911
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.
The heart of man is fraught and filled with much gross and filthy corruption: but none is worse than that which is here spoken of, that a man should make a light matter ⟨p. 626⟩of sin. It is strange and very monstrous that it should be so, and yet by this place we see it doth often so fall out. Yea in another place the holy Ghost doth testify, (and we know1 that his testimony is true) that the fool doth make even a sport and a pastime of sin. Our own days will confirm the same. For come unto an adulterer, to a false witness bearer, and to such gross sinners, tell them that God is angry with them, that he will be avenged on them, as he hath been upon others for such sins, and what I pray you, will they do? Surely he that is filthy will be more filthy, and the false witness will mock at judgement. And what is this but to make a mock and a •est at sin? •ay, what is it but to make a God of sin, and to serve it in stead of God? and how do they grow unto this height and excess of sin? Surely one chief cause is, because they be not plagued like other men, because the mercy2 of God doth hedge them in on every side, and because they pass their time in prosperity and pleasure. O what a monstrous thing is this that a man should be made worse by the3 goodness of God? how miserable is that man that will make the mercy of God an occasion of his own misery? & how unthankful is he, that the more benefits the Lord doth bestow upon him, the more he will heap sin upon sin? nay how worthily is he destroyed that will abuse the unspeakable loving kindness of the Lord to his own destruction? And that there should be such, the Apostle Peter foretold us, In the latter times (saith he) shall come mockers, which shall ask for the coming of the Lord, as though he would not come at4 all. But these abuse the goodness and bounty of the Lord, who would that all should be brought to repentance. They therefore do treasure up wrath for themselves against the day of wrath, wherein the Son of GOD shall come in judgement and fierce wrath, against them that have made a mock of sin, & have not been led to repentance through his long patience and loving kindness.