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,…

Wherein these blind Divines show and bewray themselves not to have tasted truly at any time of the spirit of God, but to glance at it with some glimmering sight to their further condemnation, as the foolish Philosophers For God his people do plainly feel, and to the glory of God boldly confess, that there is no first degree or preparation in themselves, whereby they might move the Lord once to cast his favourable countenance towards them, but that it is only the merit and the undeserved mercy of God, that his spirit, which worketh any good proceedings in them, doth also begin in them, and the same spirit both continueth the work, and maketh a way for the work, which he himself must work upon afterward. It is said, Isaiah 44. 3. I will pour water upon the thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: where our nature for barrenness is compared to dry ground, and the Spirit to a fountain of water. The Lord moreover by his Prophet showeth, that until by his good spirit he doth soften us, we have stony hearts. And can a stone bleed, though you bruise, cut, and break it in pieces▪ Surely no more can we be bruised, humbled, and broken in heart for sin, be the judgements of God never so sorely urged upon us, until God by his good spirit touch us. If it be then a great work to turn a stone into flesh, to make a thing most insensible most sensible; then surely to make a stony heart fleshy, and our hearts that are hardened, to melt, bleed, and to be resolved into tears is a more excellent work, and this is the only work of God his spirit. And as thus much we have spoken for doctrine, so also it may make for our consolation, and for the comfort of all them that are broken in mind, and feel the burden of their natural corruption. True it is, that all generally and naturally are flesh, dry ground, and hard hearts: but all do not feel this, all see not this, all lament not this: and therefore all that have not the beginnings of faith, and have not tasted the first fruits of the spirit, because they are but flesh; how can they feel any thing in themselves? But when the spirit cometh, that hardness is taken away, the vale is rent, and then we begin to complain of our deadness and dullness, then we will cry out of our selves as of men unworthy of any grace or favour of God.

Wherein these blinde Diuines shew and bewray themselues not to haue tasted truly at any time of the spirit of God, but to glance at it with some glimmering sight to their further condemnatiō, as the foolish Philosophers For God his people doe plainly feele, and to the glorie of God boldly confesse, that there is no first degree or preparation in themselues, whereby they might moue the Lord once to cast his fauourable countenance towards them, but that it is onely the merit and the vndeserued mercy of God, that his spirit, which worketh any good proceedings in them, doth also begin in them, and the same spirit both continueth the worke, and maketh a way for the worke, which he himselfe must worke vpon afterward. It is said, Esay 44. 3. I will powre water vpon the thirstie, and flouds vpon the drie ground: where our nature for barrennes is compared to drie ground, and the Spirit to a fountaine of water. The Lord moreouer by his Prophet sheweth, that vntill by his good spirit he doth soften vs, wee haue stonie hearts. And can a stone bleede, though you bruise, cut, and breake it in peeces Surely no more can wee bee bruised, humbled, and broken in heart for sinne, be the iudgements of God neuer so sorely vrged vpon vs, vntill God by his good spirit touch vs. If it bee then a great worke to turne a stone into flesh, to make a thing most insensible most sensible; then surely to make a stonie heart fleshie, and our hearts that are hardened, to melt, bleede, and to be resolued into teares is a more excellent worke, and this is the onely worke of God his spirit. And as thus much wee haue spoken for doctrine, so also it may make for our consolation, and for the comfort of al them that are broken in minde, and feele the burthen of their naturall corruption. True it is, that all generally and naturally are flesh, drie ground, and hard hearts: but all doe not feele this, all see not this, all lament not this: and therefore all that haue not the beginnings of faith, and haue not tasted the first fruites of the spirit, because they are but flesh; how can they feele any thing in themselues? But when the spirit commeth, that hardnes is taken away, the vale is rent, and then wee begin to complaine of our deadnes and dulnes, then wee will crie out of our selues as of men vnworthie of any grace or fauour of God.