A02178:4216
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.
7 Many men marvel how men be so smitten with such fears, and so despair that they cannot believe: but these never consider the judgement of God in hardening them; and thus by a carnal admiration are deprived of all profiting by such examples. In all things we should turn our eyes from man and only behold God, and know that it is he which maketh our enemies to love us, our inferiors to obey us, our friends to hate us, our superiors to loth us. If we had this in our hearts we would surely cast off the fear of man and flattery, and strive to fear God in all sincerity, and to know that if the fear of God prevail with us, we shall prevail with men, and have success in our affairs, or see his love in our correction, and in exercising our faith.
7 Many men maruell how men bee so smitten with such feares, and so despaire that they cannot beleeue: but these neuer consider the iudgement of God in hardning them; and thus by a carnall admiration are depriued of all profiting by such examples. In all things we should turne our eyes from man and onely behold God, and know that it is hee which maketh our enemies to loue vs, our inferiours to obey vs, our friends to hate vs, our superiours to loth vs. If we had this in our hearts we would surely cast off the feare of man and flatterie, and striue to feare God in all sinceritie, and to knowe that if the feare of God preuaile with vs, we shal preuaile with men, and haue successe in our affaires, or see his loue in our correction, and in exercising our faith.
8 The people of Israel are said to fear God, when he destroyed their enemies, and spared them: This fruit we must have in us of all Gods works, as well as they. They did not1 only fear but also believe, which showeth their fear to be godly, for that fear only is godly which is mingled with faith. Then whatsoever fear we have, it is nothing, except ⟨p. 684⟩it either confirm us in the love of the word, or else do turn us thereunto, that so we may believe.