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,…

For many have inheritances, who hardly keep the assurance of them from all assaults of crafty men, who craftily undermine the estate and hold off their possessions, by falsifying their evidences. Wherefore he addeth in the latter end of the verse, thou shalt maintain my lot. For although nothing be more casual then the life both of body and soul, and in manner of a lot is most uncertain, yet the issue of them both being in the hands of the Lord, he dare safely commend himself unto him. Thus then must we be persuaded of our inheritance, as for love of it, we had rather with Naboth have our blood spilt, then suffer our selves to be deprived of it; which we see already to be performed of the Martyrs. But here we are to note how all our assurance hereof is in the word, and not elsewhere to be found, as the man of God himself showeth, Psal. 119. 57. O Lord thou art my portion, I have determined to keep thy words: and 111. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever, for they are the joy of mine heart. it is both easy and usual for all to say, God is my portion, God is mine inheritance, God is he that prepareth a table before me, God filleth my cup: The gayest hypocrites will brag of this, and the most wretched worldlings will avouch as much; but here in they be wray themselves in reverencing so smally the means hereof, and accounting so little of the word, which is the only assurance whereby they hold their inheritance. Doth he seek by his portion or inheritance bequeathed unto him by testament or otherwise, who maketh none account of his evidence and ancient copies, whereby he holdeth his assurance? Can men then think that God is their inheritance, when they esteem so smally of his promises which ratifieth their hold, and keepeth in record their assurance? Can a man assure himself, that God is his portion when he hath no delight in his sacraments, wherein it is sealed and surrendered into his hands? This then is a true trial, whether we may in truth subscribe to the Prophet his protestation, when we delight in the means, that is, in the word, in prayer, in the sacraments, and in discipline: which thing if we have not, pretend we what we will, all is but hypocrisy. If God be our portion, we must be as chary and wary of the word, as of some Will, wherein some great thing is given unto us;

For many haue inheritances, who hardly keepe the assurance of them from all assaults of crafty men, who craftily vndermine the estate and hold off their possessions, by falsifying their euidences. Wherfore he addeth in the latter end of the verse, thou shalt maintaine my lot. For although nothing be more casuall then the life both of body and soule, and in manner of a lot is most vncertaine, yet the issue of them both being in the hands of the Lord, hee dare safely commend himselfe vnto him. Thus then must wee be perswaded of our inheritance, as for loue of it, we had rather with Naboth haue our bloud spilt, then suffer our selues to be depriued of it; which wee see alreadie to be performed of the Martyrs. But here we are to note how all our assurance hereof is in the word, and not elsewhere to be found, as the man of God himselfe sheweth,