A02178:4360
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.
14 In natural men we find these marks: first, that natural men measure others by1 themselves, so did these brethren judge of Joseph. So doth the world judge hardly of Gods2 children, because they are ungodly themselves: so those that think to correct or admonish in anger, think that others do so too, because they come of fashion to the Church, they think so of others. When we are ready then to think evil of others, let us take heed we be not so our selves, and let us learn to leave this, for the sin is great. For first, we bear false witness against our brother. Secondly, we be enemies to the grace of God in them: because in this our corruption, we cannot judge well of them. The ready remedy is to pull out the beam out of our own eye, and to judge charitably of others. Secondly, a natural man doth more abstain from evil, for man than for God: and so will it be, till3 the fear of God be settled in us, to teach us Gods providence in things to come, and his judgements in things past. This was with Esau, because the days of his father were at hand. So many are now restrained by the magistracy, which otherwise would do evil: so long as ⟨p. 718⟩it is with us thus, we are but hypocrites, and not regenerate. The remedy is, to consider Gods providence, to commit vengeance to him, to overcome evil with goodness: and then shall we do things for conscience sake, and not for fear. Thirdly, the torments of4 5an evil conscience, is the punishment of sin: the wicked shall fly, when none pursueth: whensoever then our conscience doth trouble us, let us know that our sins are in us▪ whereof we are not purged. When we fear men, it is either for the want of the assurance of Gods merciful providence, or forgiveness of our sins, or for that we have done the like to others: as Cain thought every one would slay him, because he slew his brother. If we have not done them harm, and yet fear as Abraham did Abimelech, then it is the want of Gods providence, which riseth of the want of the forgiveness of our sins: for if we fear the creature, it is because we are not reconciled to the Creator. The remedy of