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,…

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, Joel. 2.

In the last daies I will powre out my Spirit vpon all flesh, &c. This is now come to passe, and therefore Christ his kingdome is now. For whensoeuer God his Spirit shall come vpon all, then is the kingdome of Christ come, but now God his Spirit is come vpon all, therefore now is the kingdome of Christ come▪ Thus the Apostle reacheth vs, how we may know when, and where Christ his kingdome is, euen where as well the young as the old, the women as the men, the seruants as the maisters can shew forth the workes of the Lord. In Poperie men and women, old and young, maisters and seruants, could not talke of the mysteries of God, therefore in Poperie there is not Christ his kingdome. And though our compound Anabaptists haue great things in their mouthes, yet because their men and women speake nothing but dreames, forsaking the word of God, they haue not the kingdome of Christ. In many places in the daies of Queene Mary both old and yong were not afraid to shew the praise of God, as well women as men boldly professed the truth, not only maisters, but seruants gaue testimonie to the Gospell with their bloud, and therefore then in such places appeared this kingdome. And we may safely at this day reason so in euery congregation, where old and young, men and women, can speake the praise of God, there is the Spirit of God, there is the kingdome of Christ; otherwise, if these things are not there, there is not his kingdome, what meanes so euer are vsed. And now to braunch 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 thinne drops, but powred out in full measure and plentifull abundance. What more vile than flesh? what more pretious than the Spirit of God? the excellencie whereof we shall see more euidently,