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,…

Yet further observe, that when our Lord Jesus Christ was most full of Gods spirit, he was then led to be tempted in the wilderness; when he was most furnished, he was most tried. On like manner, when we have received some great gifts, we must look both that the Lord for his part will take some trial of them, and that Satan also watching for the richest pray, and gaping for a man when he hopes to have the best spoil, will for his part there use the most force and cunning, where he findeth the rarest and most notable servants of God: partly because he most envieth them, and partly for that by pride he thinketh soonest to inveigle them. Wherefore if Gods children shall truly examine their own hearts in this sin, they shall have some testimony and trial in themselves, whether they be thankful for Gods mercies in truth or no, if having received much they fear much: and by how much the more they increase in gifts, by so much they grow the more jealous over¹ their thoughts, words and deeds, and sit as it were in the watch-tower of their hearts, viewing to espy even their least declinings. Which thing if we could do in trueth, he should not so have the graces of God and feeling of the spirit by fits, but both in greater measure and longer continuance: the want of which heed taking to our selves, constraineth the Lord to punish us (as I said) with dullness and deadness of spirit, thereby to preserve² us from viler sins, which otherwise our pride and security would carry us headlong into. And were it so that in reverence and fear we could attend more on the Lord, we should not have his good spirit so rare a guest unto us, & we should find the increase and return of greater consolations than we have. Why do men then so much marvel at the dullness of mind coming on them after some rare feelings of the spirit, and when they have tasted joys glorious and unspeakable, and think that now all the fruits of Gods grace are as clean gone away in them, as if they never had tasted of the power of regeneration, seeing unthankfulness is so ordinary and usual a sin with us?

Yet further obserue, that when our Lord Iesus Christ was most full of Gods spirit, he was then led to be tempted in the wildernesse; when he was most furnished, he was most tried. On like manner, when wee haue receiued some great gifts, wee must looke both that the Lord for his part will take some triall of them, and that Satan also watching for the richest pray, and gaping for a man when he hopes to haue the best spoyle, will for his part there vse the most force and cunning, where he findeth the rarest and most notable seruants of God: partly because he most enuieth them, and partly for that by pride he thinketh soonest to inueigle them. Wherefore if Gods children shall truly examine their owne hearts in this sinne, they shall haue some testimonie and triall in themselues, whether they bee thankfull for Gods mercies in truth or no, if hauing receiued much they feare much: and by how much the more they increase in gifts, by so much they grow the more iealous ouer