A02178:4532
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.
So that they that use the promises, as they do, saying God is merciful, Christ dyed for us. The Lord will forgive us, and so stuff themselves with promises till they have made them a pillow for sin, they abuse themselves. True it is, that the sweet Psalmist saith, Psal, 131. Mercy is with God. What? Not to make bold with sin, but to fear him. Such sophisters then show by their reason, of what spirit they are, and to whom they belong, that is, to the devil. For seeing it is of the mercy of God, he is become a great preacher and publisher of God his promises, and ye shall not have a promise, but he will allege it, he is a greater enemy against Moses▪ and against those that urge the law, calling them Moses his Ministers, and Doctors of Despair, and all to this end, to sow promises unto us, that we might take no thought: but still make this conclusion, Christ hath died, be bold to sin. It is good therefore for a man to watch himself, whether in hearing the promises of God he hath a cold fear coming on him for his unworthiness, which if he have, that man may hope well of himself. For the nature of a promise from God, excludes security, and therefore it must end in fear.
So that they that vse the promises, as they doe, saying God is mercifull, Christ dyed for vs. The Lord will forgiue vs, and so stuffe themselues with promises till they haue made them a pillow for sinne, they abuse themselues. True it is, that the sweete Psalmist saith, Psal, 131. Mercie is with God. What? Not to make bold with sin, but to feare him. Such sophisters then shew by their reason, of what spirit they are, and to whom they belong, that is, to the diuell. For seeing it is of the mercy of God, he is become a great preacher and publisher of God his promises, and yee shall not haue a promise, but he will alleage it, hee is a greater enemie against Moses▪ and against those that vrge the law, calling them Moses his Ministers, and Doctors of Despaire, and all to this end, to sow promises vnto vs, that we might take no thought: but still make this conclusion, Christ hath died, be bold to sinne. It is good therefore for a man to watch himselfe, whether in hearing the promises of God he hath a cold feare comming on him for his vnworthinesse, which if hee haue, that man may hope well of himselfe. For the nature of a promise from God, excludes securitie, and therefore it must end in feare.