A02178:4700
A02178:4700
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.
There be some which call good evil, and evil good, they shrink up evil into a narrow1 scantling: and would fain bring it to this, if they could, that none do evil but they that are in gailes. But we must take •eede of this, and therefore let us know what it is to do evil. Evil is either naturally evil, or evil by circumstance. In all our actions to avoid evil, 1. Thess. 5. 22. we must learn this lesson, follow nothing but prove it first, and keep that which is good, but abstain from all appearance of evil. Be sure that it is good ye do, but if it have but a show of evil, avoid it: if it be an evil favoured thing to see to, fly it. 1. Cor. 6. All things (saith Paul) are not profitable, though they be not plainly forbidden.
THere be some which call good euill, and euill good, they shrinke vp euill into a narrow1 scantling: and would faine bring it to this, if they could, that none doe euill but they that are in gailes. But wee must take •eede of this, and therefore let vs knowe what it is to doe euill. Euill is either naturally euill, or euill by circumstance. In all our actions to auoide euill, 1. Thess. 5. 22. wee must learne this lesson, followe nothing but proue it first, and keepe that which is good, but abstaine from all apparance of euill. Be sure that it is good ye doe, but if it haue but a shew of euill, auoide it: if it bee an euill fauoured thing to see to, flie it. 1. Cor. 6. All things (saith Paul) are not profitable, though they be not plainly forbidden.
2 To hear the threatenings and to tremble at them; to hear the promises and to believe1 them; to reverence the Sacraments and to receive them; to pray unto God in all our wants, and to be thankful for all his mercies, are ways to keep us from sin, and to recover us from sin when we are fallen thereinto. Therefore the neglect of these doth pull down judgements upon men: for though Paul rebuked the Corinthians of many sins,2 yet for this cause (saith he) some are asleep, some are sickly, &c. For if these had been used as they ought, sin should never have grown so far as it did.
2 To heare the threatnings and to tremble at them; to heare the promises and to beleeue1 them; to reuerence the Sacraments and to receiue them; to pray vnto God in all our wants, and to be thankfull for all his mercies, are waies to keepe vs from sinne, and to recouer vs from sinne when we are fallen thereinto. Therefore the neglect of these doth pull downe iudgements vpon men: for though Paul rebuked the Corinthians of many sinnes,2 yet for this cause (saith he) some are asleepe, some are sickly, &c. For if these had been vsed as they ought, sinne should neuer haue growne so farre as it did.
3 Let them that fear the Lord account it his great mercy, that he will not let them prosper and thrive in their sins: least they should be carried away thereby to perdition, and those who belong not to the Lord (though they think all well) so long as they feel their ⟨p. 799⟩profit: yet let them know that the Lord doth show no greater sign of his wrath, than when he suffereth them to prosper in their wickedness. For as a father that hateth his child most,1 when he giveth himself to be ruled by his own pleasure: so it is with the Lord. Therefore let them that take pleasure in following their own lusts, and satisfy their own desires in sin and wickedness, though for the present they obtain that they delight in, take heed least the clouds of darkness suddenly overshadow them; and so the Lord send them to be tormented in hell before they be aware. Whereas contrariwise he chasteneth his children in this world, that eternally they might not be condemned.
3 Let them that feare the Lord account it his great mercie, that hee will not let them prosper and thriue in their sins: least they should be carried away thereby to perdition, and those who belong not to the Lord (though they thinke all well) so long as they feele their ⟨p. 799⟩profit: yet let thē know that the Lord doth shew no greater signe of his wrath, than when he suffereth thē to prosper in their wickednesse. For as a father that hateth his child most,1 when he giueth himselfe to be ruled by his owne pleasure: so it is with the Lord. Therefore let them that take pleasure in following their owne lusts, and satisfie their owne desires in sin and wickednesse, though for the present they obtaine that they delight in, take heed least the cloudes of darknes suddenly ouershadow them; and so the Lord send them to be tormented in hel before they be aware. Whereas contrariwise he chasteneth his children in this world, that eternally they might not be condemned.
4 We shall never thoroughly leave sin, until we know and acknowledge sin to be sin, and be truly sorrowful for the same.
4 We shall neuer througly leaue sinne, vntill we know and acknowledge sinne to be sinne, and be truly sorrowfull for the same.
5 The nature of the wicked is, that there groweth their love, where they be not gainsaid1 and reproved for sin, and where they be admonished, there groweth their hatred.
5 The nature of the wicked is, that there groweth their loue, where they be not gainsaid1 and reproued for sinne, and where they be admonished, there groweth their hatred.
6 If once we give consent to sin, we are made ready to fall into moe and many sins, and making no conscience of one sin, we shall not make conscience of many and great sins: and so being once in wrapped in sin, it is an hard thing to get out of the claws of the devil. Lord give us grace to see and to resist the first sin, even the first motions unto sinne, Jam. 1. 13. 14. conferred with Heb. 3. 12. 13.
6 If once we giue consent to sinne, we are made ready to fall into moe and many sins, and making no conscience of one sinne, we shall not make conscience of many and great sinnes: and so being once in wrapped in sinne, it is an hard thing to get out of the clawes of the diuell. Lord giue vs grace to see and to resist the first sinne, euen the first motions vnto sinne, Iam. 1. 13. 14. conferred with Heb. 3. 12. 13.
7 It is the greatest judgement of God that can be, to thrive in sin.
7 It is the greatest iudgement of God that can be, to thriue in sinne.
8 We must take heed that by the occasion of others that sin, we give not our selves to do the like: but rather by the fall of others into sin, we must learn to rise up unto the Lord.
8 We must take heed that by the occasion of others that sinne, we giue not our selues to doe the like: but rather by the fall of others into sinne, we must learne to rise vp vnto the Lord.
9 The occasion of sin may be by another, but the cause of it is in our own corrupt nature, which is always ready to sin.
9 The occasion of sinne may be by another, but the cause of it is in our owne corrupt nature, which is alwaies readie to sinne.
10 Sin getteth most strength, when good men fall into it.
10 Sinne getteth most strength, when good men fall into it.
11 It is a great mercy of God to go bungar like, and foolishly about a sin.
11 It is a great mercy of God to goe bungar like, and foolishly about a sinne.
12 It is good to resist that which nature most liketh.
13 That God that drew light out of darkness, will draw goodness oft times out of our corruption. Our corruption corrected by the mercy of God, maketh us esteem better of1 good men, being removed or taken away from us, than we did when they were near and remaining with us.
13 That God that drew light out of darkenesse, will draw goodnes oft times out of our corruption. Our corruption corrected by the mercy of God, maketh vs esteeme better of1 good men, being remoued or taken away from vs, than we did when they were neere and remaining with vs.
14 One sin goeth not alone: but one sin will open the doors of the soul to let in another.
14 One sinne goeth not alone: but one sinne will open the doores of the soule to let in another.