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,…

meaning that he would use the benefit of them, to wane himself from false worshippers; as men will frequent the company of the learned that desire learning; and they that will have their lips schooled by the law of grace, will oft resort to the grave speeches of the wise. And surely it is a special help to further our selves in the pure worship of God, if we divorce our selves from the crew of false worshippers, and wholly espouse our selves to the fellowship of them that worship in spirit and in truth. This reason also may appear to be general, because it followeth in the order of our confession of our faith, that we believe the holy and universal congregation, the communion of Saints: and this communion is in receiving as well as in giving: and therefore being understood of such a mutual participation of gifts from one to another, it must follow as a particular part thereof, that we be ready to do good. And where he saith, All my delight is in them, that is in the Saints: we must not think that he meant to take away civill duty from them that were in authority, for that must be given to them in outward things, yet in our hearts and in our affections the graces of God ⟨p. 319⟩his children must be most esteemed. In respect whereof when James saith, Jam. 1. 2. that the Jews had their faith in respect of persons, when they were wont to say to the rich, Sit thou here in a good place; and to the poor, Stand there, his meaning was to rebuke them, for that they so highly despised the one and so vilely esteemed the other. Wherefore we must learn always to give unto Caesar that which belongeth to Caesar, but God his children must always be nearest our heart. And this was it that our Saviour Christ saith, that they which heard the word and did the same, were his mother, his brother, and his sister: not that he lightly regarded his mother, for he was a pattern of obedience to all children, yet he loved her more as she was the daughter of God, than as she was his mother. Likewise we read, that he answered the woman that cried unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps that gave thee suck. His mother no doubt had as singular blessings, as ever were given to woman, in outward things, in that she brought forth the Saviour of all mankind: howbeit herein she was chiefly blessed, in that she believed in him to be her Redeemer.

meaning that he would vse the benefit of them, to waine himselfe from false worshippers; as men will frequent the companie of the learned that desire learning; and they that will haue their lips schooled by the law of grace, will oft resort to the graue speeches of the wise. And surely it is a speciall helpe to further our selues in the pure worship of God, if we diuorce our selues from the crue of false worshippers, and wholy espouse our selues to the fellowship of them that worship in spirit and in truth. This reason also may appeare to be generall, because it followeth in the order of our confession of our faith, that we beleeue the holy and vniuersal congregation, the communion of Saints: and this communion is in receiuing as well as in giuing: and therefore being vnderstood of such a mutuall participation of gifts from one to another, it must followe as a particular part thereof, that wee be readie to doe good. And where he saith, All my delight is in them, that is in the Saints: we must not thinke that he meant to take away ciuill dutie from them that were in authoritie, for that must be giuen to them in outward things, yet in our hearts and in our affections the graces of God