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,…

And here, not of a set treatise, but by the way, we will speak of the last part of our division, that is, of the mean how to attain to these graces of the Spirit. We know rich men can for their increase frequent fairs, ambitious men can get preferment, carnal men will watch their opportunities, and every man in his kind knoweth how to provide best for his profit and pleasure. Our way goeth on the other hand, and heth in the careful hearing of the word, the fervent use of prayer, the reverent & fruitful resorting to the Sacraments, and most holy submitting of ourselves to the discipline of the Lord, in frequenting the company of God his children, and in waning our selves from the world; by all which means the spirit may have a more voluntary, free, and perfect work in and upon us. And although all these things are not particularly here set down, yet mark, here is named the most proper mean pointing at all the rest, and this, as ye see, is prayer, by the which the Lord conveyeth his spirit into us, to make all the other means more pleasant & profitable to us. Why then are not so many sermons now adays more effectual, when one or two sermons touched these people so powerfully? Surely God his spirit worketh not in us, as he wrought in them. Why, when any be converted, do so few turn to the Lord, when as the Lord drew so many of these men at once to himself? Because we are drawn away too much of our own flesh, and taste not the sweetness of God his spirit, as they did. But can a man pray for faith and God his spirit, which as yet hath neither faith nor the spirit of God? Whatsoever good gift we have, it is certain we have it by faith and God his spirit in some measure in us, and then we may pray for the increase of them in us. For it is God his spirit that prayeth in us, Rom 8 True it is, that many have received God his Spirit, before they feel it, and faith before they see it, and by this means they pray to receive faith and the spirit of God, as they think, or rather the increase of both, think I, because they have received them before, for else could they never truly have prayed. But they then that are called, owe this duty to Ministers, that they must pray for them, even as Preachers must pray for them. Thus we shall see the prayers of the Church, Psalm. 67.

And here, not of a set treatise, but by the way, we will speake of the last part of our diuision, that is, of the meane how to attaine to these graces of the Spirit. We know rich men can for their increase frequent faires, ambitious men can get preferment, carnall men will watch their opportunities, and euery man in his kinde knoweth how to prouide best for his profit and pleasure. Our way goeth on the other hand, and heth in the carefull hearing of the word, the feruent vse of prayer, the reuerent & fruitfull resorting to the Sacraments, and most holy submitting of ourselues to the discipline of the Lord, in frequenting the companie of God his children, and in waining our selues from the world; by all which meanes the spirit may haue a more voluntarie, free, and perfect worke in and vpon vs. And although all these things are not particularly here set downe, yet marke, here is named the most proper meane pointing at all the rest, and this, as ye see, is prayer, by the which the Lord conueigheth his spirit into vs, to make all the other meanes more pleasant & profitable to vs. Why then are not so many sermons now adaies more effectuall, when one or two sermons touched these people so powerfully? Surely God his spirit worketh not in vs, as he wrought in them. Why, when any be conuerted, doe so few turne to the Lord, when as the Lord drew so many of these men at once to himselfe? Because we are drawne away too much of our owne flesh, and taste not the sweetnes of God his spirit, as they did. But can a man pray for faith and God his spirit, which as yet hath neither faith nor the spirit of God? Whatsoeuer good gift we haue, it is certaine we haue it by faith and God his spirit in some measure in vs, and then we may pray for the increase of them in vs. For it is God his spirit that prayeth in vs, Rom 8 True it is, that many haue receiued God his Spirit, before they feele it, and faith before they see it, and by this meanes they pray to receiue faith and the spirit of God, as they thinke, or rather the increase of both, thinke I, because they haue receiued them before, for els could they neuer truly haue prayed. But they then that are called, owe this dutie to Ministers, that they must pray for thē, euen as Preachers must pray for them. Thus we shall see the prayers of the Church,