A02178:5171
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.
Another thing I am to admonish you of, that you be not as the covetous men of the world, who so gape upon that they further desire, as they consider not, but rather forget1 that which they already have, and having much indeed, in their opinion have nothing: and to all purposes and uses do as well want that which they have, as that which they have not. So it oftentimes happeneth to the dear children of God, that whilst they look and breath after that which they have not yet attained unto, they forget and neglect that which they have received, and use it not to their comfort and rejoicing, as otherwise they should. This overreaching & importunity of theirs, Satan abuseth against them, from the opinion of having nothing, to blind their eyes not to see the present grace and goodness of God towards them. It is true that the Apostle saith, that in the course of godliness and2 religion, we may not think we have attained the goal, or are come unto the end of our race: but, forgetting that which is behind us, and endeavouring unto that which is before, must contend (as to a mark) unto the reward of the most high calling of God in Christ Jesus. But he speaketh it not to this end, that we should not in thankfulness acknowledge the former mercies of God bestowed upon us, or not use them unto our comfort, as testimonies of his love & favour towards us: but that we may not stay in our present profiting ⟨p. 880⟩but add daily a new and fresh increase; that as from a larger and greater heap o• benefits, we may more and more assure our selves, that we are beloved of God, and shall enjoy the inheritance of his kingdom. When the Apostle saith, Work your salvation, &c. and labour 34to make your calling and election sure: though the meaning be not, that we should put confidence of salvation in works, yet it telleth us, that the works & fruits of our faith are testifications of Gods spirit dwelling in our hearts more evident and pregnant, than that Satan himself can or dare deny them. We may not suffer our selves to be so overborne of the enemy under the colour of zeal and desire to do well, as not to remember wherein the Lord hath already given us some part of well-doing: not so to strive unto that we have not, as to forget that which by his grace we already have: