A02178:4340
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.
and all these examples do take away all excuse from us, if we do yield and be overcome with the same. Thirdly, the means which God useth to cure this Pride in his, is generally the knowledge of their own corruption and misery: for if we rightly know1 that, it will minister matter enough to humble us: yea, if we look unto our first estate, even there we may be humbled: first, because we were made of dust. Secondly, seeing our state was subject to falling and change: Nay, if we look to the state in which we are by grace, we may learn humility: First, because we stand by grace and favour: secondly, because many infirmities are in us: but most of all, if we behold our state by Nature; for there we see nothing but destruction, because we be the children of wrath. Thus Paul was2 humbled by beholding his natural corruption: but it was no light consideration which he had of it, but a deep meditation, as is manifest in that he calleth it the Minister of Satan, a prick, &c. Paul when he saw his corruption rebel, he therein did behold3 Satan as our Saviour Christ did, when Peter tempted him, because as Peter saith, he goeth about continually, seeking sometime by our corruption, sometime by other means to destroy us; and therefore he did more diligently watch and arm himself against him, as it behooved him, being besieged of so mighty an enemy. This therefore is the cause why we are overcome with our afflictions, because we make but a light matter of them, and do not watch and arm our selves against them. And in that Paul saith, the Minister of Satan was sent to buffet him, he showeth what power the devil hath, and that he can do nothing, but as he hath licence granted from God, as appeared in the story of Job, and other places; and yet Satan buffeted him, that is, after a most contemptuous manner used him: where again we see what account Paul maketh of corruption, when he compareth it to this spiteful dealing. Again, when he calleth it a prick or stub, he4 showeth how it grieved him: for as a man that hath a long journey to go among stubs, will soon be weary; So Paul, considering his continual journey which he had to go, wherein his corruption did still prick him, did show by this speech that it was grievous unto him.