A02178:4766
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.
5 If Satan can make our youth an unprofitable age, in all the ages following little good is to be looked for. For if ye once nip the blossom, where is the hope of the Autumn? Where may we look for fruit? Well, if we will needs use our pleasure, then must we set down some measure. The devils rules never have exceptions, but Gods Saints must learn restraint; we must never make our hearts the stewards of our affections, that our thoughts wander not in them, and least in desiring things too much, we exceed when we have them. There must be the least lusting of these outward things, because there is least use of them. If a man cannot want them, he will abuse them when he hath them. It is1 true that Jerome saith: The beginning is honest, but the greatness is deformed. And that also sin is very reasonable in the beginning & very shamefaced. Tamar went first to play the whore with a veil before her face, but now with an open face: first honest recreation, and then a pleasure of vanity, recreation before labour, to play before we study, we use pleasure, but to no good end.
5 If Sathan can make our youth an vnprofitable age, in all the ages following little good is to be looked for. For if yee once nip the blossome, where is the hope of the Autumne? Where may we looke for fruite? Well, if we will needes vse our pleasure, then must we set downe some measure. The diuels rules neuer haue exceptions, but Gods Saints must learne restraint; we must neuer make our hearts the stewards of our affections, that our thoughts wander not in them, and least in desiring things too much, we exceed when we haue them. There must be the least lusting of these outward things, because there is least vse of them. If a man cannot want them, he will abuse them when he hath them. It is1 true that Ierom saith: The beginning is honest, but the greatnesse is deformed. And that also sinne is very reasonable in the beginning & very shamefaced. Thamar went first to play the whore with a vaile before her face, but now with an open face: first honest recreation, and then a pleasure of vanitie, recreation before labour, to play before we study, we vse pleasure, but to no good end.
- 1Sin by degrees grows to impudency.