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,…

Now to come to the words of our Apostle: Be it far from me. He here showeth how his choice came of a settled purpose, and that in respect of this whereof he had made a sound and special choice above the rest, he abhorred and vilely esteemed all other things. And this vehement phrase of speech is used of the Apostle in things which rather are to be detested, than to be disputed against, as Rom. 3. 4. when Paul abhorreth the blasphemy against the grace of God, in that the unbelief of a few should disannul the belief of many, he crieth out, God forbid. And when he would show his hearty hatred to the accusers of the righteousness of God, Rom. 3. he saith, God forbid. As also in the end of the same chapter, the Apostle more vehemently meeting with the objection of them who say, in that justification came of faith, would live as they listed, and would make the law of God of no purpose, saith, Be it far from me. Likewise Rom. 2. abhorring them that would willingly divorce holiness of life from justification, and remain in sin, that Christ his grace may abound, he breaketh out, God forbid. Thus then the holy Ghost useth this phrase, when either he showeth some thing thoroughly to be hated, or speaketh of some thing principally to be chosen and preferred. And the Apostles meaning in choosing above all to rejoice in Christ crucified, and in mourning for nothing more than for that which hindereth the cross of Christ, is nothing else but to declare, that whosoever doth rejoice in any thing more than in Christ crucified, he freeth himself from all the things that are in Christ, and as yet he cannot assure himself to belong to Christ, as also he showeth what a necessary rejoicing this is, in that there is no comfort in salvation, no mark of Gods child in him, who either rejoiceth not in this, or at the least longeth for it.

Now to come to the words of our Apostle: Be it farre from me. He here sheweth how his choise came of a setled purpose, and that in respect of this whereof he had made a sound and speciall choise aboue the rest, he abhorred and vily esteemed all other things. And this vehement phrase of speech is vsed of the Apostle in things which rather are to be detested, than to be disputed against, as Rom. 3. 4. when Paul abhorreth the blasphemie against the grace of God, in that the vnbeliefe of a few should disanull the beliefe of many, he crieth out, God forbid. And when he would shew his heartie hatred to the accusers of the righteousnes of God,