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,…

It followeth in the next verse. I will praise the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my rein•• also teach me in the nights. That is, I acknowledge that it is thy free benefit, that I have discerned to make this choice. For how should I think thee to be my portion of mine inheritance, and to maintain my lot, but because thou hast renewed me by thy spirit, and advised me in that, wherein flesh and blood could not counsel me? The due consideration hereof made our Saviour Christ say on this manner: I thank thee, O father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones: for so it is thy good will and pleasure. As if he should say, I would marvel these silly souls should so profit more in heavenly wisdom, than the wise of the world: but, Lord, I see it is thy will, and the wisdom of the wise can nothing further thee, nor the simplicity of the other can any thing hinder them for thy kingdom: but thou workest all in all according to thy pleasure. Again, among so many opinions of the Jews, of the Scribes, Pharisees, of Sadducees, Herodians, and Essenes, it was the only power of God whereby Peter ⟨p. 325⟩was taught among the rest of the Disciples, and in the name of all rightly to confess Christ to be the true Messiah, and to be both true God & true man. Wherefore our Saviour Christ hearing this his confession, saith, Peter, flesh and blood hath not revealed this to thee, but my Father which is in heaven: that is, thou never attainedst to this by thy mother wit, or by the light of nature; thou hast not been fenced by thine own reason from hunting after me, and opposing thy self against me, with the Scribes and Pharisees, but my Father hath both guided and guarded thee. And what shall we think of our selves? Is it not the Lord his mighty & secret working in us, that among such swarms of heresies, such boldness of Papists, such a multitude of Anabaptists, Arians and Family of love, we are preserved, to discern the right, and to cleave to the truth? If we look to our wits, others which are fallen away are as wise as we: If we look to our natural dispositions, we are as full of natural corruption as they: if we look to our education and helps in learning, have not others been as much thereby furthered as we?

It followeth in the next verse. I will praise the Lord, who hath giuen me counsell: my rein•• also teach me in the nights. That is, I acknowledge that it is thy free benefit, that I haue discerned to make this choise. For how should I thinke thee to be my portion of mine in heritance, and to maintaine my lot, but because thou hast renewed me by thy spirit, and aduised me in that, wherein flesh and blood could not counsel me? The due consideration hereof made our Sauiour Christ say on this manner: I thanke thee, O father, Lord of heauen and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast reuealed them to little ones: for so it is thy good will and pleasure. As if he should say, I would marueile these sillie soules should so profit more in heauenly wisedome, than the wise of the world: but, Lord, I see it is thy will, and the wisedome of the wise can nothing further thee, nor the simplicitie of the other can any thing hinder them for thy kingdome: but thou workest al in al according to thy pleasure. Againe, among so many opinions of the Iewes, of the Scribes, Pharisies, of Sadduces, Herodians, and Essens, it was the onely power of God whereby Peter