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,…

Wherefore seeing the Lord heretofore hath bestowed his graces and blessings upon us in more ample sort than ever we could have looked for, and that now he seemeth as it were to be absent from us, let us bewail and mourn for his absence, and then he will return: otherwise let us never look for his presence again: wherefore let every man beware that he make precious account of the word of God, and let every one consider and ⟨p. 293⟩examine himself whether he hath in him a readiness to seek this treasure or no; yea let every one provoke himself to this, for the kingdom of heaven from the time of John Baptist unto Christ suffered violence, and must suffer violence until the end of the world. And none ever did or shall enter into it, to have fruition thereof, but those who with all fervency, violence, and zeal have sought after it. Wherefore if we have not clearness in knowledge, pureness in affections, if we find not in us joy in the holy Ghost, zeal, and boldness in good things, love, meekness, patience, and such like fruits of the spirit, we are to know¹ that this is for want of fasting, praying, knocking, seeking, and due estimation of the Word and Sacraments. Wherefore if we find in our selves the want of these things, we must have recourse to the use of the means.

Wherefore seeing the Lord heretofore hath bestowed his graces and blessings vpon vs in more amplesort than euer wee could haue looked for, and that now hee seemeth as it were to be absent from vs, let vs bewaile and mourne for his absence, and then he will returne: otherwise let vs neuer looke for his presence againe: wherefore let euery man beware that he make precious account of the word of God, and let euery one consider and ⟨p. 293⟩examine himselfe whether he hath in him a readinesse to seeke this treasure or no; yea let euery one prouoke himselfe to this, for the kingdome of heauen from the time of Iohn Baptist vnto Christ suffered violence, and must suffer violence vntill the end of the world. And none euer did or shall enter into it, to haue fruitiō thereof, but those who with all feruencie, violence, and zeale haue sought after it. Wherefore if we haue not cleerenesse in knowledge, purenesse in affections, if we finde not in vs ioy in the holy Ghost, zeale, and boldnesse in good things, loue, meekenesse, patience, and such like fruites of the spirit, wee are to know