A02178:5138
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.
Thus Job cursed the day of his birth, and wished to be strangled, Jeremiah almost repented that ever he preached in the name of the Lord: both scarcely abstain from blasphemy. David moved with the spirit of ambition (though dutiful admonished) wilfully went on in numbering the people. Peter also vaingloriously presuming of his own strength, being most wisely and effectually preadmonished of his weakness even by our Lord Jesus, yet wittingly rushing as a horse into the battle, even then very cowardly yieldeth, yea doubly denieth, yea strengtheneth his sin with a threefold cord, and fasteneth it with bannings and cursings: and yet for all these he obtained mercy most bountifully. For why? as Satan had desired to winnow them, so our Lord Jesus prayed for them, that their faith, though it was vehemently assaulted, yet should not be overcome; although it was bartered, yet that it should not be destroyed; and though it was oppressed, yet that it should not be extinguished. And here be you fully persuaded, that albeit Luke 22. 31. the words seem to run as belonging but to Peter▪ viz. I have prayed 1for thee that thy faith should not fail; yet he prayed for the rest of the Apostles, yea, for all the faithful. For first he saith not; Simon, Satan hath desired to winnow thee, but you: Why then saith he, I have prayed for thee? Verily because he should more grievously offend than the rest (although their offence was very great) therefore his & our most blessed Saviour applied to him the promise, but did not appropriate it unto him only, and restrain it from the rest. Compare with this place, John. 17. 20. and you shall see that the heavenly verity affirmeth, that he prayed not only for the Apostles, but for all those that should believe 2through their word: yea further, Our Lord Jesus Christ was yesterday, is to day, and shall be for ever. And as the forefathers were baptized into him, & did eat his flesh, and did drink his blood; so was his prayer effectual even to them under the law, much more to us under grace. And when you can find testimony in your heart, that when you would do well,3