A02178:5113
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.
The Lord Jesus Christ by whose blood you are justified, stay and strengthen you now and for ever, Amen.
THe Lord Iesus Christ by whose blood you are iustified, stay and strengthen you now and for euer, Amen.
Seeing we be so miserable, blessed be God that we be also mortal: seeing we be subject to sin, praised be God that we are also subject to corruption. It would now grieve us to be mortal, because we sin, and by sin purchase misery: it is sufficient that we shall then never die, when we shall never sin, and then we shall no more taste of corruption, when we shall no more so much as fear condemnation. In regard whereof (good Mistress) look not so much to your grief for the death of your son (which you see to be the common lot of all, and the happy lot of the godly) as upon his freedom from misery, his liberty from sin, and his holy change to eternal felicity.
Seeing we be so miserable, blessed bee God that wee bee also mortall: seeing wee be subiect to sinne, praised bee God that wee are also subiect to corruption. It would now grieue vs to bee mortall, because wee sinne, and by sinne purchase miserie: it is sufficient that we shall then neuer die, when we shall neuer sinne, and then wee shall no more taste of corruption, when wee shall no more so much as feare condemnation. In regard whereof (good Mistris) looke not so much to your griefe for the death of your sonne (which you see to be the cōmon lot of al, and the happie lot of the godly) as vpon his freedome from misery, his libertie from sinne, and his holy change to eternall felicitie.
And albeit he was young in years, yet was he come to sufficient years to go to God, that he that hitherto did grow in Christ, should now be gathered and reaped up to the kingdom of Christ: so that we cannot think him to die in his flowers, whose perfection groweth to so blessed a maturity before the Lord. If then you rejoiced in him as he was the interest of the Lord: you are not much to sorrow, that the Lord hath his right. Which (if your love to him was right) you know did ever appertain unto him. He must not of you his earthly parents be deemed to be lost, which of his heavenly father is so surely preserved. And without all question his very growing in godliness, under so manifold afflictions in this life, could not have been so profitable to him, and comfortable unto you; as the loss of a few and faint pleasures, recompensed with so infinite and unspeakable joys in the life to come, are I hope, and must be unto you.