A02178:4986
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.
CHAP. XI. Of Means.
CHAP. XI. Of Meanes.
Although God have appointed ordinary causes, yet he hath reserved in his own sovereignty and jurisdiction the staff of them, and the virtue, infusion and heat of them. For as the Physician prescribing a medicine made with wine, it is not the bare wine that nourisheth, but it is the thing steeped in the wine that worketh: so although we have things ministered unto us by the best means, unless the Lord put to his staff all is but in vain. For as we may see some continually fed with cordial and nutritive meats, notwithstanding labour of a consumption▪ so we shall see others fed with water-gruel, and yet to be very well nourished. On this manner GOD can work with means, and this he can work without the means, because the Lord would show that he reserveth a power beyond means: although he established all things in a natural course, yet he brought forth every thing without means: so the light was created the first day, the Sun the forth day. Men seeing their corn not to grow, cry for rain: but her bes and fruits grew before rain. True it is that we look for things ordinarily now by means, but they began without means: as God making man at first without seed, now will increase them with seed, his blessing being with his ordinance, and not else. But behold a further thing, God worketh not only by means, and without means, but contrary to means also. Christ when he would restore sight to the blind man, doth it with that means which we think would put out a mans eyes, and ⟨p. 845⟩blind the sight of him that can see; whereby he showeth that even contrary things obey him. Elijah, 2. King. 4. to make salt waters sweet, putteth salt in them: such is the power of our God which bringeth light out of darkness, which is the destruction of light.