A02178:4267
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.
for as that man, which in his health and good success1 hath been diligent to fear God, and to do good, feels in his sickness an unspeakable comfort, which he would not miss for all the world, and a mighty boldness to speak unto God, towards whom he knoweth he hath not been unkind, doth not fear at all: so that man, which whiles the world prospered with him, never thought of God, nor regarded his word, nor the preaching thereof, when the visitation of the Lord is upon him, when God shall take his soul from him, his case is most miserable, feeling no comfort, nor daring to speak to God, whom he hath neglected. And sorrow such a one never so much, yet he2 doubteth, and must needs doubt, for that he knoweth not, whether his remorse be of the loath somnes of sin, or for the fear of death, & whether he be humbled before the Lord, or before sickness. It is good policy to print his judgements first in our bowels, and to diet our selves more sparingly with his mercies, least making up our sins in the remembrance of his mercies, they break forth & flame to our confusion in body & soul everlastingly, Eccles. 12. Psal. 73. Heb. 12. Rom. 11. Thy judgements are as the great deeps. Then to fear God when he showeth mercy, and to love him when he executeth judgements are two hard things, yet necessary. Howsoever God doth now forbear, he will not do so always,3 but he will set him down in his judgement seat and throne of justice, and our chief care must be, how we may appear without fear and trembling before him. This is it that we must think of at midnight, what we shall answer that dreadful Judge, when he shall ask for our account. Let us set him before our eyes, not as our fond brain is wont to imagine of him, but as the Scriptures describe him. When he will arise to command the Angel to blow his trump: such a God as the Seraphims hide their faces at his ⟨p. 694⟩