A02178:4253
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 We shall not accuse God of hard dealing, if we consider how many ways he blesseth us, and in how few things he humbleth us: and if we think how many sins we commit, and how few he punisheth, how few duties we do, and how many blessings he giveth us. Let us never marvel why we are often or much afflicted, why we have not Gods promises fulfilled unto us: nay rather let us for ever marvel at the goodness of God, which so plenteously rewardeth our small obedience.
7 We shall not accuse God of hard dealing, if we consider how many waies he blesseth vs, and in how few things he humbleth vs: and if we thinke how many sinnes we commit, and how few he punisheth, how few duties we doe, and how many blessings he giueth vs. Let vs neuer maruell why we are often or much afflicted, why we haue not Gods promises fulfilled vnto vs: nay rather let vs for euer maruell at the goodnesse of God, which so plenteously rewardeth our small obedience.
8 We must not say with Peter, Lord I am a sinner, depart from me; but, Lord I am a sinner, come near to me, and draw me nearer to thee. They that will not draw near to the thorn of Mercy in this life, shall draw near to the throne of Justice in the life to come: so1 they shall go from the East of Gods mercy to the West of his justice. And if the Lord hath sanctified your hearts, ye must know, that we draw near to God by means. The first means is prayer, we go to God by prayer, not by paces: Prayer is a sacrifice to God, a refuge to man, a whip for the devil. The second means is hearing of his word: if we will2 have God hear our prayers, it is meet God should claim thus much of us, that we should hear his word. If we will say, Lord hear my prayer, he must say, my son hearken to my words. The Lord uttereth his affection in this, O that Israel would have heard my commandments. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, saith Christ, how often have I called and thou wouldest not hear: let all men know that there hath been no word from our birth to our death spoken to us, but in way either to our salvation or damnation. The third mean whereby we draw near to God, is by the Sacraments. The word it self is an audible word, the Sacrament is a visible word; the commandment is flat,