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 in such a multitude of heresies, where with profaneness of life hath joined it self, if it were possible, the very elect should be deceived, were it not that they were governed by the Lord himself.

For in such a multitude of heresies, where with prophanenesse of life hath ioyned it selfe, if it were possible, the very elect should be deceiued, were it not that they were gouerned by the Lord himselfe.

It is added in the next verse, The li[…]e fallen unto me in pleasant places: yea I have a fair heritage. The former matter is amplified, wherein he showeth, that he so liked his choice of the word: that in hope to change he chose it not. So his meaning is in effect all one with the verse going before, and may thus shortly be couched together O Lord thou hast dealt with me favourably, which pleaseth me so fully, that I require no other happiness. For notwithstanding my crosses and temptations be many, yet because in all I feel thy gracious help, I desire not to change for any other felicity. In which stream we must learn this one point, that we never feel effectually the fruit of our salvation, until we can triumph over the world, the flesh, and the devil: and when our heritage so pleaseth us, that we repent not: beware of repenting, beware of repenting when ye have once given your names unto Christ: for ye are become backsliders, & are fallen partly to heresy, partly to atheism, partly to profaneness, because they made not a sure & unchangeable choice ⟨p. 324⟩of their profession at the first. This verse is especially to be understood of the favour of God, which he felt; and therefore being assured that the kingdom of God was his, that the providence of God watcheth over him, and his Angels ministered unto him, he was so stayed, that if other outward things did come, he counted them cast upon him, as the overplus of God his mercy; if no other things came, he was satisfied If we think our lines to be fallen pleasantly, we must by proportion by so much the more seek spiritual than carnal things, by how much the soul is better than the body. How then is God their portion, their lot and inheritance? how doth their heritage assigned of God please them, who are so careful in earthly things to provide for back and belly, and so careless in heavenly things to provide for their souls and consciences? For if we were persuaded, whatsoever we have, we have it of God, we would use it with prayer, receive it with thanksgiving, we should not rest in outward things, as in lands, possessions or preferments, as in our portion, but in the Lord who giver these things. Thus when we are delighted with our heritage, we endeavour not to get things by ill means;