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,…

Therefore we know not how to profit under the cross, because we know not the causes¹ of it, but we dwell in the effects, & complain of the thing done, not looking to the cause and original of it, which we see in that a man being crossed by a wicked man, he storms against the man, but looks not to God: wherein he doth as if a man should quarrel with the staff wherewith he is beaten, and never look to the smiter: for a man is but as the rod of the Lord, or as the staff of the devil; we deal (I say) with the stripe, not with the devil, by whose instigation that is done. And as we deal with the devil in his motives, so we deal with the Lord in his visitations: we could tear the rod, but not be humbled under him that useth the rod. And what do we profit by this behaviour? Admit we could wrest the rod out of Gods hand, what gain is that for us, against whom he will take up a sword and a mallet, or a great rock, wherewith he will not stand to beat us, but out of hand to break us in fitters? And therefore good wisdom it is not to wrestle with the effect, but to meet with the cause. Now then there are two things which blindfold us, that we cannot² see Gods wrath in our afflictions: the one, because we are not straight consumed with the anger of God: so long as men waste away by little and little, and are not beaten down at one blow, they put off all suspicion that God is displeased with them, and never acknowledge his wrath, until it come like an ambassador of death. Some are consumed by apoplexies, and suddenly fall dead: some by hectics, and piece by piece fall away. This is so much the more dangerous, because it is the less sensible, and rather killeth us than forewarneth us. It is as dangerous to moulder away, and as easy to dye of an hectic, as it is to fall dead and to be taken with an apoplexy: And therefore it is not good to tarry for the dead blow. Another cause is this: that as Gods judgement• are to many, mercies, and proceed from his love towards us: so though we see it not, many of his mercies we sent to us in his judgement, and proceed from him in wrath. So Jeremiah saith, that the Lord gave Josiah in wrath to reign over his people: and yet Josiah was a good King. The use of all this³ is thus much, to show us that the Lords anger works in him, as do all other affections when they have not their work in us.