A02178:4353
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.
8 Exod. 10. 1. the Lord saith of Pharaoh, I have hardened his heart: because Pharaoh had a long time hardened his own heart (as is recorded in the former chapters) therefore here the Lord is said to harden it; that is, wholly to give him over to the devil So man is said to harden his heart, when he will not hear Gods word, the devil when he governeth us, and1 the Lord when he leaveth us in Satan's handling. Man then is guilty of this sin, and the Lord doth justly harden for the punishment of former sins. The Lord is said to harden, as he is said to lead into temptation, and that is when he withdraweth his spirit from us, and leaveth us to our selves, and then we stay not long till we be hardened. Pharaoh had many plagues, yet this is the greatest, for if his heart had not been hard, these would have had an end: but this hardness made the other but tas•s of hell, because we do less fear this great plague than many other. We ought to correct this in our selves, for the children of God must fear this more than any other plague. For if we do but fear worldly punishments, so do the wicked: but if we do fear hardness of heart, and other spiritual punishments, then we may be sure Gods spirit hath wrought that fear. If we covet worldly things, this do the Heathen, Matth. 6: but if we desire the light of Gods countenance, Psalm 119. and 4. and 67. this do Gods dear children. Wherefore as we labour for these things which our nature desires, & fear the contrary, so let us labour for the light of Gods spirit, and fear least it be quenched in us, or else decayed: as when we fear poverty, we labour to be rich; and when we fear sickness, we labour to prevent it: so let us labour for our souls, so long as we feel a taste in Gods word, fear his judgements, and be comforted in his mercy: if we labour to increase the graces received, the2 Lord no doubt will work with us; but if this be not in us, it is to be feared least the Lord will harden.