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,…

If this were not, where were the fulfilling of God his promises▪ where should be the executing of his threatenings? for Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Lot, Joseph, Job, David; Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, & all the rest of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, & holy men and women, in the world were but as Pilgrims, and desiring a better and heavenly Country, suffered in this world troubles, persecutions, trials and all manner of evil. Again, the wicked prosper in their goods, bodies, wives, children, they have no bands in their death, they are lusty and strong, they feel not the sores of Job, nor the miseries of Joseph, ¹pride is a chain unto them, and cruelty covereth them as a garment, their eyes stand out for fatness, they have more than heart can wish. So in this world the faithful feel not the promises: the unfaithful feel not their punishments. It must needs be therefore by God his justice, as it is certain by his word, that seeing in this life the holy ones are not fully rewarded, nor the wicked ones fully revenged, in the life to come the one should rise to heavenly ⟨p. 184⟩jo•es, the other should rise to hellish torments. And as we see, that there shall be a resurrection of the flesh, because the word hath said it, which is true, and justice will put it in practise, because it doth require it; so the power of God is able to perform whatsoever² the word doth show, or justice doth desire to be done. It is not without great cause, that in the entrance of our Confession, we acknowledge the Lord to be almighty. For what were his mercy, or what were his justice, if he could not perform that with might, which he doth promise, nor bring to pass with power, that which he threateneth? Howbeit when we say God is almighty, we give to understand, that he can do whatsoever he will do. For true it is, he cannot fail in his trueth, he cannot alter the covenant gone out of his mouth: what then? is there any thing unpossible to the Lord? no: the Lord will do what is good & can do what he will. Neither doth it any more derogate from God his almighty power, to say, he cannot lye; than it doth extenuate the commendation of a mighty Captain, to say, he cannot be conquered. This power of God is either seen in his Creation, or in his Providence, or Preservation. In his Creation thus, if God our of nothing could draw out heaven and earth;