A02178:4305
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.
How il soever the way be, and wheresoever it lieth, every mans way is right in his own eyes, Proverb. 21. and we will defend whatsoever we do. There is a searcher of the heart, who saith, Isaiah. 55. your 1ways are not as my ways, and because there be wrong ways. Jerem 18. Let every man turn 2from his own ways, these evil thoughts, 1. Pet. 2. 11. are said to be the devils Soldiers, and to war against the soul: they follow their captain, and we follow them, and then you may easily know, whither we go, Jerem. 17. There is a wickedness said to be in the heart of man, and that not easy to be espied, but it is a subtle wickedness, and the subtlety thereof is unsearchable. This is every man before he be regenerate. Isaiah saith, The hart of man to God is, as the clay to the Potter. Indeed saith he, it is clay to God, but wax to the Devil,3 that is to say, it must have much tempering, and great ado to bring it to God; but in Satan's shop, very pliable to any work he shall put it to. Although we never saw any evil example, nor were tempted at all outwardly, yet our own hearts would teach us wickedness. It is mine own heart, that is the cause of sin in me, and it is folly to say, woe to that man, but for him I had never fallen thus, and therefore if the issue of mine own corruption be stayed and stanched in me, it is God that restraineth mine own heart, or else I should run into all wickedness, whatsoever the gallows punish. This must bring a man out of love with himself. By this we see how wicked speeches those be, let him do what he will, and I will do what I list, but there is no mention of Gods will. Basil, when he had persuaded himself, that if he could be in the wilderness, he should be happy, and serve God more devoutly, being out of the company of men; when he came thither, he said, I have forsaken all things, but I retain mine old heart still. If this evil were not, all evil temptations could not prevail against him. For Adam was not overtaken with the temptation, until he was corrupted in his heart. Therefore it is said.