Works, Part 4 · Letter 5
ANOTHER COMFORTABLE LETTER BY MASTER R. G. TO MASTER M.
BRother, beloued in our LORD IESVS CHRIST, seeing you hauehave had heretofore not onelyonly Knowledge, but also experience of Gods gracious and mercifull goodnesse in Iesus Christ, of your owne vnbeliefe, and of Sathans subtlenesse; I could maruell why you should giuegive such place, and not keepe your ground no surer, if I were not much acquainted with such occurrences. I knowe not therefore whether with wordes of rebuke, or of comfort, I should seeke to relieue you. Because I cannot come vntounto you, my counsell and desire is, that you would come vp to London the next Terme at the farthest; that so I might aske of God to frame my speech to your good. In the meane season (I beseech you) to call vntounto minde that which you cannot bee ignorant of; that in the Lawe Sacrifices were offeredLeuit. 5. 15. for Gods people, not onelyonly at their first entrance into couenant with the Lord, butNumb. 15. 38. also afterwards many times: and that not onelyonly for sinnes committed by ignorance, butIgnorance and error differ. also by error, that is, Forgetfulnes, Frailenes, Retchlesnes, Carelesnes, &c. If you hauehave not Tremelius his Translation by you, you must take heed of the English that hath ignorance: for they failed that so translated it.
It is manifest, that the sinne of error is there opposed against the sinne committed with an high hand, that is, a blasphemie with contempt of God: and making his Law of no effect,Gods childrē may fall after their calling into many foule faults. but to be in vaine. Which sinne I am sure you are most farre off from; I would you were as farre off from vnbeliefe and distrust. That Gods children may fall after their calling, into diuers foule faults, may appeare by many proofes. First, in the Law, when the Lord speaketh in his Maiestie, and proclaimeth his glorie, yet in how manie wordes commendeth he his mercy, and for how many seuerall sorts of sinnes? Doth not Esay the holyExod. 24. 6. 7. Prophet call the people of his dayes, the people of Gomorrah; and their Princes the Princes Esay. 1. 10. 11.of Sodome? Doth not hee accuse them as grieuous transgressours, both of the first and second Table? and yet doth afterwards promise them, that though their sinnes were as crimson, Vers. 8.Esay. 31. 6.they shall be as white as snow: though they were red like skarlet they should be as wooll. DothEsay. 63. 10. he not charge them that they were sunke deepe in rebellon, and yet exhorteth them toEsay. 63. 9. returne vntounto the Lord? Yea, doth he not charge them not onelyonly with rebellion, but also with vexing the holy Spirit of God? And yet reade what is written, Pray, as there you may learne of Esay, chap. 63. vers. 7. 15. 16.
What? doth not the holy Prophet Ieremie shew, that Ephraim was as an vntamed calfe?Iere. 31. 18. 20. &c. yet so soone as he mourned, and was ashamed of himselfe, doth not the Lord shew that his bowels of mercy were troubled for his estate? Doth nor the Lord offer mercy vntounto the prophane and forgetfull transgressours of his holie couenant? Is not this part of the couenant made with all the sonnes of Dauid in Christ Iesus, that if they not only omittingPsal. 50. 5. 22. many good things, but also committing rebellions & iniquities, that though he may visite them, yet it shall be with the rod of his children, and that his mercy he will not take from them, nor breake off his couenant made with them in Iesus Christ? ThereforePsal. 89. 30. remember that the holy promises, threatnings, precepts, & examples are written, that we should not sinne: but, If any man sinne, wee hauehave an Aduocate with the Father, Iesus Christ 1. Ioh. 2. 2.the iust, and hee is …he reconciliation of our sinnes, and not for our sinnes onelyonly, but for the sinnes of the whole world. Doth not the blessed Apostle Paul charge the Corinthians (whom hee affirmeth1. Cor. 1. 6. 7. to be rich in Christ, and destitute of no spirituall gift) to bee more carnall than spiriuall, yea babes in Christ, yea to be fallen into idolatrie, committing of euill things, fornication,1. Cor. 3. 15. 2. 3. tempting not onelyonly of God but of Christ, yea murmuring against them: yet doth he not herein comfort them, that no temptation hath taken hold on them, but such as appertaineth1. Cor. 10. 7. 13. to man, and that God will be mercifull vntounto; Dauid prayeth against presumptuousPsal. 19. 13. sinnes, that they should not reigne ouer him: signifying, though hee sinned presumptuously, yet if hee did not perseuer in presumption obstinately, without desire to repent, that such sinne or sinnes were pardonable. Now the Lords couenant towards his in Iesus Christ, is not to deale after their sinnes, nor to reward them after their iniquities, much lesse will he not regard in wrathfull displeasure their infirmities. For if he should so marke what is saide or done amisse, who were then able to abide it? But with him is merciemercy in Iesus Christ, that he may be feared. Therfore lift vp your hands which hang downe, and strengthen your weak knees, and say vntounto your soule; Why art thou so cast down and vnquiet within mee? I will yet trust in Iesus Christ, and waite vponupon the mercifull graces of God purchased by his merits. Consider that true humilitie ariseth of faith in IesusTrue humilitie proceedeth from faith. Christ, and that is true Faith that ingendreth humilitie; as we may not diminish our sins, so may we not too much aggrauate them, nor diminish Christs merits: hauehave euermore in your minde the example of the prodigall sonne, who saith not, I am not thy sonne: but, I am no more worthie to be called thy sonne: hee saith not, Let me be thy bond-slaue; Nay hee saith not, Let me be thy hired seruant; but Let me be as one of thy hyred seruants: his Father came, and met him, and fell on his necke, &c. So shall it come to you good brother. I need make no more application: the holy annoynting which you hauehave receiued, will bring the old mercies of God vponupon others, and vponupon your own soule, vntounto remembrance, and leade you into all trueth, which shall be requisite for your saluation. Put your trust in the Lord, and be you assured, beleeue his Ministrrs and you shall prosper. The Lord Iesus came not to breake the bruisedreede, nor to quench the smoking flaxe; his grace shall bee euermore sufficient for you, and his vertue shal vntounto the end manifest it selfe in your weaknesse. Now therfore I beseech him to preserue your bodie and soule, and spirit, vntounto his most glorious appearing. Faithfull is hee that hath called you, and promised, who will also performe it, Amen. From my house in London, in Warwicke Lane, Ann… 1591. Feb. 24.
Yours in Iesus Christ, as he hath bene, RICHARD GREENHAM.