A02178:4503
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.
Oh it goeth sore when CHRIST, whose Face was wrinkled with weeping, and the shadow of death was on his Eyes for our sins: when that Christ who in the days of his1 flesh offered supplications with strong crying and tears, Heb. 5▪ When that Christ, who in the bitterness of his soul lifted up his voice over Jerusalem, and cried: Oh if thou ha•st but known at the least in this day, what belonged unto thy peace: and so was same to lift up the rest of the Sentence with tears, as it was, and as not being able to speak on for weeping, the tears coming down so fast, that they interrupted his speeches, and made them unperfect; When thou CHRIST shalt laugh at our perishing, and take delight at our destruction. Yet this will he do, and more also, if we shall be cold or careless in this business.2 And therefore sift your selves narrowly, ye that purpose this work, gauge the bottom of your thoughts, and be sure that it is the Shepherds voice that calleth you in, be sure that your gifts are answerable. For he that bringeth to this building, either untempered mortar, or unskilful hands, building he shall build, and a tower he shall build; but not Zion, but like the tower of Shiloh, Luc. 8. to fall down upon him, and to crush him3 to pieces, and all to fitters. This may find us matter to think of, when we are alone, and may strike us into cogitations, knowing, that our nature is blind, and believeth easily her own fancy; and thinketh her self called, when she is not, least happily we should not be careful or fearful enough, and so become guilty of contempt of this great commandment, which is the highest treason against the eternal GOD, and a matter of most fearful condemnation. Our Saviour CHRIST in his sermons and speeches, besides his sharp exordiums▪ claspeth up many things with his Selah, and with his vehement epiphonema, which he useth never to set to (mark it when ye will) but in matters of great charge, and in such savings of his, as he would have to pierce and divide between the joints and the marrow: He that hath Ears to hear, let him hear. In effect, it is thus much, he that planted the ear, he planted it for himself, and for his own sayings planted he it, he it is that speaketh, shall not he have audience? Even the Lord it is that speaketh, shall he