A02178:4770
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.
9 We are not to justify our selves before God only by faith, but we must also1 justify our selves by good works before men: so that we must not only labour for our selves, but endeavour to stir up others also, and look one on another, as the Cherubins did, and tell things one to another, as John told his brother. We must be careful for one another, and that not only for the time present, but for the time to come. This we are bound to do, and our common dealings ought to bind us thereunto. We provide for our children, should we not provide for the Church which is spiritually tied unto us? Surely, if we consider the plenty and peace, which we enjoy, we shall see that it is not for our deserts▪ for we abound in sin, and none iniquity is wanting in us, but it is the blood of the Martyrs, who have purchased this so dearly. For these days did they sow with tears, and we have reaped them with joy. Now, if we will not have our posterity to reap the tears of our lives, then let us be careful to sow the good seed of godliness, else they shall feel the smart. The meaning is this, that they which have ⟨p. 800⟩households and have been called themselves, should labour to leave behind them a go[…]eed for the continuance of the Church, as we see in Zach, unto whose whole house ••• Lord Jesus brought salvation. It is a fearful thing to hasten to be worldly, and to linger to an evil thing is an holy lingering, and to make hast to godliness is a godly hastiness. Elisha must not salute any, whom he meeteth; the Apostles must not tarry to talk with any2 in their journey, and why? The Lord requireth great hast in his business. It is profitable to make hast to heaven, but it is no wisdom to make hast to hell, yet to do well we find a Lyon in the streets, but to do evil, there is no hoe with us. Well, the kingdom of God suffereth violence, we must make hast to it, and beware we linger not as the foolish Virgins, to store our selves with Oil and to furnish our selves with the graces of God.
9 Wee are not to iustifie our selues before God onely by faith, but wee must also