A02178:4874
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.
3 There are found out three truths. First, The truth of life, which every man must labour1 for. The second is, The truth of Justice, which is in Common-wealths. The third is, Truth in doctrine and religion, which is in the Church. For that truth of life, which ought to be among men, that we may better understand it, we will show it in measures and weights. In a measure there is a Standard, and in weight there is a Seal, and if our measure be equal with the standard, and if our weights be just with the seal, so as they be neither lighter nor heavier than the standard weight: our measures and weights are true. Now to apply these things: the main and standard truth is set down, Joh. 17. Thy word is the truth: Then here is the point, the word is trueth. If our thoughts be agreeable to this standard, and then our2 tongues be agreeable to our harts, well agreeing to the standard, if our doings agree with our tongues; then comes sincerity of heart, simplicity of speech, and constancy of life. Now here is the question then, whether the conclusion we make in our brain, be equal3 with the standard, or else our hearts are false, and they being false our tongues are out of rule, and our outward life can never be true. For surely if the word have not taught us our truth, we have no truth in the world, and then we truly measure all things according to4 the truth, when we esteem all things as the word doth esteem them: look what conclusions the word hath set down of the world, and of other things, that must be our conclusion and principle in every thing. Phil. 3. Paul, who doubtless knew the truth, and delivered nothing but measured by the standard of the truth, hath this conclusion, that to win Christ, he would lose all: there was nothing so glorious in the world, but he counted it riff raff for the attaining of Christ. This is then the first thing to do all things by the analogy of the word, and then we shall have but one heart, not a heart and an heart. Otherwise we shall be as deceivable as the vineyard that Isaiah speaks of, whereof grapes were looked for, but it brought forth wild grapes. And because men have worldly conclusions, and the world not the word is their standard, so that they are resolved of their principles speaking thus secretly in their hearts, We will keep this gain and profit, they have lost the truth.