A02178:458
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.
And as I would not you should dispute with your temptation, so I would not you should despise it, and make no account of it: for in both are extremities. If you take it too much to heart, or marvel how you should overcome such a temptation, it will make you dull or desperate. If you account of it too little, and marvel how such things should come into your head, which was not wont to be so, it will make you not to strive, and you shall be swallowed up before you be aware. If you account of it too fearfully, Satan will oppress you before you begin to fight. If you account of it too lightly, the devil needs not to wrestle with you, you will overcome your self: therefore fear in respect of your self,1 fight boldly in Christ, tremble at your own corruptions, but rest and trust in Christ your2 salvation. If still you are tempted and no body by you, write your temptation, and offer it to God by prayer, and promise to him that you will ask counsel at his word, at the mouth of his minister, when he shall give you just occasion. If all this help not, comfort your self with this pledge of Election, that you are joyed when you feel your belief, and you are grieved least you displease God by your unbelief: and know, that as there is3 a vicissitude of the means of salvation, which you must use; so there is also a vicissitude4 of temptations, whereof this is one, against which you must strive.
And as I would not you should dispute with your temptation, so I would not you should despise it, and make no account of it: for in both are extremities. If you take it too much to heart, or maruell how you should ouercome such a temptation, it will make you dull or desperate. If you account of it too little, and maruell how such things should come into your head, which was not wont to be so, it will make you not to striue, and you shall be swallowed vp before you be aware. If you account of it too fearefully, Sathan will oppresse you before you begin to fight. If you account of it too lightly, the diuell needes not to wrestle with you, you will ouercome your selfe: therefore feare in respect of your selfe,