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 to set on work the eye, the ear, the hands, to travel with the heart to set the whole body in a frame of subjection, as becometh them that pray to the Lord (which showeth, that prayer is a thing both painful and laborious) we shall prove it to be a very hard thing. Prayer bringeth the experience of the things which we know, and without it we have as little proof of our knowledge▪ as they have use of an hidden treasure, which never are the better for it. The word maketh known to us the treasures of God his wisdom: but faith bringeth the experience of them, by applying and appropriating these mercies of God to our selves, & prayer is the instrument, whereby this faith is continued in us. The word telleth us, that God will plague sinners, prayer brings an experience of this: The word telleth us, that God careth for us, prayer proveth this: the word showeth, that the Lord hath both power and mercy to show to his people, prayer obtaineth the trial of this: the word revealeth to us the wisdom, providence, majesty, and goodness of God, prayer conveyeth the certainty of these things into us. God will be glorified wholly and only, and cannot abide that we should be fellow-partners with him therein. If a man come by knowledge, faith, and repentance by hearing, it is rather an infusion into a man than an action from a man, and it is the great mercy of God: but when the Lord brings a man on his knees, and humbles him in prayer, and constraineth him to ask all of God, that we might hear rightly, and so use the things heard, this breaketh the heart of a man, and makes him to say, Great is the Lord. This, I say, humbles a man to acknowledge his wants, this calleth down many blessings both spiritual and corporal from the Lord. We know, that though a father is ready and fully hath purposed to leave an inheritance unto his children, yet to acquaint them with obedience, he will have them ask things of far less value at his hands: so God, notwithstanding he hath purposed to give unto us an heavenly inheritance, which in Christ is purchased, yet to continue us in faith and obedience, he will have us to ask it of him. If mans wisdom can come thus far, shall we not hereby gather the wisdom of God▪ If man hath this pity, shall we doubt of mercy in God?

but to set on worke the eye, the eare, the hands, to trauell with the heart to set the whole bodie in a frame of subiection, as becommeth them that pray to the Lord (which sheweth, that prayer is a thing both painfull and laborious) we shall proue it to be a very hard thing. Prayer bringeth the experience of the things which wee know, and without it we haue as little proofe of our knowledge as they haue vse of an hidden treasure, which neuer are the better for it. The word maketh knowne to vs the treasures of God his wisedome: but faith bringeth the experience of them, by applying and appropriating these mercies of God to our selues, & prayer is the instrument, whereby this faith is continued in vs. The word telleth vs, that God will plague sinners, prayer brings an experience of this: The word telleth vs, that God careth for vs, prayer proueth this: the word sheweth, that the Lord hath both power and mercie to shew to his people, prayer obtaineth the triall of this: the word reuealeth to vs the wisedome, prouidence, maiestie, and goodnes of God, prayer conueieth the certaintie of these things into vs. God will bee glorified wholy and onely, and cannot abide that wee should be fellowpartners with him therein. If a man come by knowledge, faith, and repentance by hearing, it is rather an infusion into a man than an action from a man, and it is the great mercie of God: but when the Lord brings a man on his knees, and humbles him in prayer, and constraineth him to aske all of God, that wee might heare rightly, and so vse the things heard, this breaketh the heart of a man, and makes him to say, Great is the Lord. This, I say, humbles a man to acknowledge his wants, this calleth downe many blessings both spirituall and corporall from the Lord. We know, that though a father is readie and fully hath purposed to leaue an inheritance vnto his children, yet to acquaint them with obedience, he will haue them aske things of farre lesse value at his hands: so God, notwithstanding he hath purposed to giue vnto vs an heauenly inheritāce, which in Christ is purchased, yet to continue vs in faith and obedience, he will haue vs to aske it of him. If mans wisedome can come thus farre, shall we not hereby gather the wisedome of God If man hath this pitie, shall we doubt of mercie in God?