A02178:4673
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.
16 It is good to be afflicted, that thereby we may be brought to know our sins: like wise to know afflictions before they come, that they do not overwhelm us: And then is the ministry1 of the Law necessary in the Church: for afflictions are but appendices of the threatenings, for they that despise Gods threatenings, care not for affliction, and they never come, but when we profit not by threatenings. Again, the threatenings do certainly move and teach; but afflictions do them uncertainly, (this general doctrine may be seen in the whole course of the Scripture) also that the promises are never ministered before we ••e throughly humbled. As in Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses in many, and in the children of Israel, David and others; so that repentance and faith are joined together, and repentance proceedeth of godly sorrow: if we be bold to comfort our selves afore we be thus beaten down, our comfort is counterfeit, and we do but deceive our selves, and this ordinary working of God is joined with great equity: for if we be not thus humbled, our consciences2 touched with the guilt of sin will still look for punishment. Again, the mercies of God are never so precious and deer, as when they light on a troubled conscience. And therefore Isaiah saith. That the fee•e of them that bring glad glad tidings, are pleasant to those that had been long in captivity Isaiah 52. 7. As Joseph knowing the policy of Satan, who •n sorrow seeketh to bring us to desperation, comforted his brethren: So Paul would not have the incestuous person3 to be overwhelmed with grief, and when he had made the Corinthians sorry, he doth comfort them again. So Nehemiah, after that the people had wept, said, this is not a day of mourning: So Isaiah useth fearful threatenings, yet after is most plentiful in comforts. As presumption must carefully be avoided, that men may be brought throughly to feel4 ⟨p. 783⟩