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,…

CHAP. IX. Of our general and special calling.

CHAP. IX. Of our generall and speciall calling.

Christ doth pass by us, see us, and call us, when we little respect him. In¹ law cases, and points of Physic we go with our best feet, we will do all our selves, or else sue by some special friend to them, who can far less profit us than Christ can: but in Christianity, unless Christ himself come and ring a loud peal in our ears, we never vouchsafe to be Christians. It is therefore well with us that Christ so comes to call sinners to repentance: for he may come from heaven and return again often, before we seek him or call upon him. It is well therefore that Christ would come to call sinners to repentance, for he may come from heaven, and go to heaven again, ere we will call h••. Indeed we read of certain poor diseased men in their bodies constrained by outward pain, and some hypocrites, who rather to boast than beg holiness, came to Christ But who else would? Surely one that said he would follow Christ wheresoever he went, but when he said so, he had thought he would not have gone far: he looked for better lodging than Christ was able to afford him. And when he saw that, he could give him leave to walk alone, and when he saw Christ to have none of the great buildings in Jerusalem, he would go no further with him than the towns end.

CHrist doth passe by vs, see vs, and call vs, when wee little respect him. In¹ law cases, and pointes of Physicke we goe with our best feete, wee will doe all our selues, or els sue by some speciall friend to them, who can farre lesse profite vs than Christ can: but in Christianitie, vnlesse Christ himselfe come and ring a loud peale in our eares, wee neuer vouchsafe to be Christians. It is therefore well with vs that Christ so comes to call sinners to repentance: for hee may come from heauen and returne againe oftē, before we seeke him or cal vpon him. It is well therfore that Christ would come to cal sinners to repentance, for he may come from heauen, and goe to heauen againe, ere we will call h. Indeede we read of certaine poore diseased men in their bodies constrained by outward paine, and some hypocrites, who rather to boast than beg holines, came to Christ But who els would? Surely one that said he would follow Christ wheresoeuer hee went, but when he said so, he had thought he would not haue gone farre: he looked for better lodging than Christ was able to afford him. And when hee sawe that, he could giue him leaue to walke alone, and when he saw Christ to haue none of the great buildings in Hierusalem, he would goe no further with him than the townes end.