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,…

Are we persuaded with the Prophet of God Psalm. 16. that we shall be raised and freed from corruption? that our death is a sleep, our grave as a bed? and that, that God, that raiseth the Sun daily out of his den, will draw us also out of the earth? then have we true faith, which undoubtedly we shall find more strong, if long before death come, we would exercise our selves with the meditations of death. Many we see by deferring all unto the last end, die heathenishly; many, who would seem to have more heroical¹ spirits, desire unnaturally to dye, not that they are surcharged with the burden of their rebellion and corruption, but because as beasts, they neither can rejoice in things in heaven, nor fear the pains in hell. These are more drowsy and senseless beasts, than those, who are more loth to depart, in whom appeareth more nature, and some conscience; but the other degenerating from nature, are a far more monstrous and dangerous kind of people. Howbeit the common sort of people commend this kind of death, they say thus, he departed as meekly as a lamb, he went out of the world as a bird goeth out of the shell, he died very quietly never speaking a word; nay they might say more truly, he died beastlike, he gave no token of repentance, in acknowledging² his sins, he showed no fruit of faith how he was saved in Christ, he gave no testimony of his hope in witnessing a joyful resurrection, and changing to a better life. Thus we see, how ready we are to extremes, either fearing death too much, or fearing³ it too little. Well, if we will be rid of that fear in excess, behold here is a remedy: My flesh doth rest in hope, for thou wilt not leave my soul in grave. But there are othersome, who can yield quietly to death also; what is their reason? what is their faith? forsooth they say, they must pay that willingly, which is due of necessity; and seeing they owe God a death, they had as lief die at first, as at last, when the debt is payed, it can be no more required. It is far otherwise with the children of God, who of all others have the greatest preferment by death, yet having tasted of the land of the living even in this life, cannot satisfy themselves in the multitude of many days with the sweet s•ppe thereof, until their measure be brim full.