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,…

Neither would I have any to accelerate their death, or to read me as some have read Plato, that thereby they should hasten the time of their deliverance; but that we should learn, when God doth beck for us, we should be ready to remove; and that for none other causes, but for faith, and in hope of Gods promises; a full feeling of our sins discharged; a sure confidence of God his power in raising us up again; and a steadfast hope of a more glorious possession after this life. By these means we shall so rest in the hands of God, that when nature decayeth, we shall have our departure with calmness, and in a good time shall through a natural ripeness rather voluntarily fall of, than violently be pulled off. Wherefore we see that this rash and undiscreete desire off death, is either in minds that are abject, or in men, in whose flesh their spirits are already buried: as also that the triumph of the godly proceedeth from hence, even a full assurance, that he which raised them up every morning will raise them in the last day; and that he which raised Christ their head, will also raise them his members. This is that which will stay all quivering of the flesh, wherewith many are so benumbed, that they cannot with gladness drink of that cup whereunto the Lord allotted them. If ever this doctrine of the resurrection was needful, it is now adays most needful, wherein wicked Heretics would deprive us of the comfort of it. It will not serve in the time of temptation, whether it come immediately¹ from the devil, or mediately by his instruments, to rest in our infolded faith with the Papists, or to say we believe as it is in the Creed, we believe as the Church believeth. But to leave the devil himself, he hath suborned such privy and treacherous adversaries of this doctrine, as with impudent faces will agree with us in matter, and in word will grant the resurrection; and yet shift away in their manner, and in sense and truth blasphemously deny the power of the same. Thus Hymineus and Philetus would not flatly deny the resurrection,² nay they would grant it, but how? they said it was past. Thus cunningly Satan would overthrow the manner of the resurrection, by permitting them to dally in the matter.

Neither would I haue any to accelerate their death, or to reade mee as some haue read Plato, that thereby they should hasten the time of their deliuerance; but that wee should learne, when God doth becke for vs, wee should bee readie to remoue; and that for none other causes, but for faith, and in hope of Gods promises; a full feeling of our sinnes discharged; a sure confidence of God his power in raising vs vp againe; and a stedfast hope of a more glorious possession after this life. By these meanes wee shall so rest in the hands of God, that when nature decaieth, wee shall haue our departure with calmnes, and in a good time shall through a naturall ripenes rather voluntarily fall of, than violently bee pulled off. Wherefore wee see that this rash and vndiscreete desire off death, is either in mindes that are abiect, or in men, in whose flesh their spirits are alreadie buried: as also that the triumph of the godly proceedeth from hence, euen a full assurance, that he which raised them vp euery morning will raise them in the last day; and that hee which raised Christ their head, will also raise them his members. This is that which will stay all quiuering of the flesh, wherewith many are so benummed, that they cannot with gladnes drinke of that cup whereunto the Lord allotted them. If euer this doctrine of the resurrectiō was needfull, it is now adaies most needfull, wherein wicked Heretikes would depriue vs of the comfort of it. It will not serue in the time of temptation, whether it come immediatly