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,…

but if we come to any mean growth in holiness, and taste how sweet the Lord is to us, then we shall surely feel our flesh not to be so masterful, neither shall it be so laborious to do the good we desire to do. The argument of the Apostle we see is this: It is so far from these men that they are drunken, that it is God his spirit in them, than which two what can be more contrary? and it is written even by one of your own Prophets:

but if we come to any meane growth in holines, and taste how sweete the Lord is to vs, then we shall surely feele our flesh not to be so masterfull, neither shall it be so laborious to doe the good we desire to doe. The argument of the Apostle we see is this: It is so farre from these men that they are drunken, that it is God his spirit in them, than which two what can be more contrarie? and it is written euen by one of your owne Prophets:

In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, &c. This is now come to pass, and therefore Christ his kingdom is now. For whensoever God his Spirit shall come upon all, then is the kingdom of Christ come, but now God his Spirit is come upon all, therefore now is the kingdom of Christ come▪ Thus the Apostle reacheth us, how we may know when, and where Christ his kingdom is, even where as well the young as the old, the women as the men, the servants as the masters can show forth the works of the Lord. In Popery men and women, old and young, masters and servants, could not talk of the mysteries of God, therefore in Popery there is not Christ his kingdom. And though our compound Anabaptists have great things in their mouths, yet because their men and women speak nothing but dreams, forsaking the word of God, they have not the kingdom of Christ. In many places in the days of Queen Mary both old and young were not afraid to show the praise of God, as well women as men boldly professed the truth, not only masters, but servants gave testimony to the Gospel with their blood, and therefore then in such places appeared this kingdom. And we may safely at this day reason so in every congregation, where old and young, men and women, can speak the praise of God, there is the Spirit of God, there is the kingdom of Christ; otherwise, if these things are not there, there is not his kingdom, what means so ever are used. And now to branch out these words more particularly, first we are to note, that God bestoweth such an excellent thing as his Spirit; secondly that so excellent a thing is sent to so vile a thing as flesh; thirdly this grace is not leased out to a few here and there, but is freely offered to all sorts, ages, sexes, and conditions of men; fourthly, it is not distilled by thin drops, but poured out in full measure and plentiful abundance. What more vile than flesh? what more precious than the Spirit of God? the excellency whereof we shall see more evidently,