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,…

No doubt of it Peter spake simply and as he thought, yet he saw not what he thought, he knew not his own heart. It is another thing, as Gods children can well tell us, to have a general knowledge of our strength, and another thing to have a particular feeling of it: let us thereupon still remember that heavenly apophthegm, Who so will follow Christ, must for sake himself. Now if Satan find us wisely and warily catechized in this point, then he turns another leaf, and works ou• desperation. Then he shows the difficulties of godliness, our weakness, and the number of our hinderances, to bring us to be discouraged; but this is the more rare evil. Thus Satan finding another corruption, useth another course with us, if he cannot make us easy Christians, he will make us heavy Christians. To raise up such faint hearts the Apostle cries, Be strong; and least any man should reply of his own want of strength, Paul shows what and whose strength he means, namely Gods strength, and in the power of his strength this strength is required, when we see it is not good fighting with Satan in his own armour, he is a sophister, dispute not with him in his own logic; he is an orator, beware of his eloquence; he is a Prince, take heed of his power. As Satan in his own cause must use his own strength, so we in the Lords cause are to trust to the Lords strength. This doctrine requires rather meditation than declaration, conscience than knowledge to be made of it.

No doubt of it Peter spake simply and as he thought, yet he saw not what he thought, he knew not his owne heart. It is another thing, as Gods children can well tell vs, to haue a general knowledge of our strength, and another thing to haue a particular feeling of it: let vs thereupon still remember that heauenly apophthegme, Who so will followe Christ, must for sake himselfe. Now if Satan finde vs wisely and warily catechized in this point, then he turnes another leafe, and works ou• desperation. Then he shewes the difficulties of godlines, our weakenes, and the number of our hinderances, to bring vs to be discouraged; but this is the more rare euill. Thus Satan finding another corruption, vseth another course with vs, if he cannot make vs easie Christians, he will make vs heauie Christiās. To raise vp such faint hearts the Apostle cries, Be strong; and least any man should replie of his owne want of strength, Paul shewes what and whose strength he meanes, namely Gods strength, and in the power of his strength this strength is required, when wee see it is not good fighting with Satan in his owne armour, he is a sophister, dispute not with him in his owne logique; he is an oratour, beware of his eloquence; he is a Prince, take heede of his power. As Satan in his owne cause must vse his owne strength, so wee in the Lords cause are to trust to the Lords strength. This doctrine requires rather meditation than declaration, conscience than knowledge to be made of it.