A02178:716
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.
101 It may seem strange, that we are so much moved with the sermons of godly1 men at our first calling, and after we have long believed, that we should find ourselves so coldly and seldom mou•d. Here we must know, that at our first entry to Christianity, there is a more combustible matter in us, & that every little spark of fire would inflame us, that is, that we had such great ignorance, that every principle of knowledge did afresh us, and such profaneness, that every precept took hold on us: but afterward being much purged and cleansed both in life and judgement, we are not so lightly moved, we are not so soon carried away, every course di•t will not satisfy us as at the first. Again, the graces of God are sweetest at the first, and sprout out much in the beginning; for then we2 are as young plant•, which in their first rising spring out more sensibly, though less substantially, whereas old plants spring not so fast, nor so much in sight and sense, and yet grow into a more firm and solid substance. So we sprout with a more sensible joy at the first as unacquainted with that thing, but after we bring forth greater fruits, things not so sensible unto our feeling.
101 It may seeme strange, that we are so much moued with the sermons of godlie1 men at our first calling, and after we haue long beleeued, that we should find ourselues so coldly and seldome mou•d. Here we must know, that at our first entrie to Christianitie, there is a more combustible matter in vs, & that euery little sparke of fire would inflame vs, that is, that we had such great ignorance, that euery principle of knowledge did affresh vs, and such prophanenes, that euery precept tooke hold on vs: but afterward being much purged and clensed both in life and iudgement, wee are not so lightly moued, we are not so soone caried away, euery course di•t will not satisfie vs as at the first. Againe, the graces of God are sweetest at the first, and sprout out much in the beginning; for then we