A02178:4401
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.
11 In our pleasures we are especially to beware, that we take no pleasure in pleasures, Men must not be mirth mongers, (that is) men must not study for mirth. And what is1 the reason? Surely, because where there is an exceeding and over much desire of a thing, there is like to be an exceeding, and over much use of the thing, when we have it: which is our reason against ambition and covetousness: for riches and honour in themselves being2 good, by an excessive desire and use of them are made naught. The end of our mirth must not be only to bring pleasure, and that pleasure may bring joy: for then we shall rejoice to rejoice, and this is Idolatry. For it would be prejudicial to our rejoicing in God, for whatsoever hath an end above this end, is dangerous. One saith very well, if my body3 be but a strainer for meats and drinks to run through. If I serve for none otherwise, but to make report of the sweet and sower taste of this or that, surely my life is not worthy of life. Again, we must beware in our mirth, that we have not a care to please our hearts, our hearts being unsearchable pits, if they follow natural things, they grow to be too natural, and therefore they are sometimes to be pressed and imprisoned, until they smart, least having too much liberty, they cause every vain in soul and body to smart in the end.
11 In our pleasures wee are especially to beware, that wee take no pleasure in pleasures, Men must not be mirth mongers, (that is) men must not studie for mirth. And what is1 the reason? Surely, because where there is an exceeding and ouer much desire of a thing, there is like to bee an exceeding, and ouer much vse of the thing, when wee haue it: which is our reason against ambition and couetousnes: for riches and honour in themselues being2 good, by an excessiue desire and vse of them are made naught. The ende of our mirth must not be onely to bring pleasure, and that pleasure may bring ioy: for then we shall reioyce to reioyce, and this is Idolatrie. For it would be preiudiciall to our reioycing in God, for whatsoeuer hath an ende aboue this ende, is dangerous. One saith very well, if my bodie