A02178:4363
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.
16 The first means to keep us from hardness of heart, is to fear it long before: for if we once be fallen into this, then are we past all sense and feeling, and cannot perceive it, and therefore our case is more fearful and dangerous, as those are which fall into some great disease of the body and know it not. Again, if we be not of hardened hearts, then the word may work with us, and all other afflictions may have their effect, and so have a good end, but if our hearts be once hardened, then all our plagues are unfruitful unto us: yea they are nothing else, but even a taste of hell, and of those punishments which are and abide for ever. So had Pharaoh many and great plagues, yet because his heart was hardened, he profited not, but ran on forward till he was utterly destroyed. But Job, whom the Lord had not yet forsaken, profited by all his miseries, & had a good and joyful issue, and escaped from them. Therefore the children of God do fear it more than all other1 punishments, and had rather be plagued with all the miseries of Job, and the botches of Egypt, than with an heart that is hardened. It goeth not well with us then, when we fear worldly and bodily punishments, more than we do hardness of heart, and other spiritual punishments, for even here is a difference between the wicked and the children of God: for the wicked are ever greatly troubled for fear of outward afflictions, but the spiritual punishments of the soul do never a whit affect them. Contrariwise, the children of God do above all things dread spiritual punishments, as for outward troubles, they are content to bear them, and are grieved no otherwise for them, than as they are signs of Gods displeasure, this is a good note to try our selves by. The second is a true desire and love to have a melting heart, to be often touched with the word, and with David to desire the understanding ⟨p. 719⟩of the word above all worldly treasures, and the light of his loving countenance2 above all earthly help or treasure: for the worldly men do greedily hunt after worldly things, and think themselves best at ease when they enjoy them, we must then not be like minded to these men, but earnestly desire the former, and then it will be an undoubted sign of the spirit of God.