A02178:4411
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.
6 Shall we be contentious? I think no nature is so miscreant, that it doth delight1 in contention: if any delight to dwell in Meshach, as David calleth it, I would he had a tabernacle there: if any delight in contention, I wish no more harm, than that he may be never without it. What then, shall we blot out controversies? That were to teach the spirit of God wisdom. Could he not as well have said, let there be peace, as let there be light? •ay, God hath ordained there should be contentions, and not only permitted them, but saith, they must be, and such as be about the weightiest matters in truth called heresies, 1. Cor. 11. Then it is a dream of idle brains, that any good can be received without controversies, and as the Prophet Isaiah saith, without the barking of some dog or other. It is not so in evil things; they are received with silence: what then shall we play the pots, and ask the potter a reason of his doing? Albeit I like not that humour2 of men, which will search out the reason of God his doings, when they know his flat will, yet in this we may, because he hath set it down. There be three reasons, first that those, That are steadfast may be approved, we will have it in this. As Satan did to Job, God called him, what sayest thou of my servant Job▪ Liveth he not uprightly? No grand mercy, said he, for he hath all blessings of thee, but take away them, and then &c. Secondly,3 there are cities to be governed, and to that end we must use our talent. John reproved4 the Scribes and Pharisees and came to reprove Herod. Samuel reproved Ely, and came to reprove Saul, that might have smitten off his head. Thirdly, that the Devil may have the5 greater overthrow, that as God triumphed over him in Job, so in our constancy he might do the like. Then controversies are necessary. How then is it, that God is called the God of glory and peace? that Christ is called the prince of peace? the Gospel, the Gospel of peace? the Ministers, the Ministers of peace? of glad tidings and unity commended so general? Surely it is the fault of our age to deliver the word by halves, and so I say, that he that teacheth peace to be good simply without exception, teacheth an error. Therefore peace must be peace in truth, and for this cause Christ saith, I am the way, the life and truth: for to have contention with such as hold not in him, is no breach of peace.