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,…

That I should rejoice. Mark, he saith not, Be it far from me, that I should use, think, speak, or do any thing but the cross of Christ: but he wisheth, that his affection should not principally be tied to any thing, but to Christ. Neither must we from hence unfitly gather, that we should not eat, drink, apparel ourselves, marry, or walk in some honest trade of life; but this we must learn, that we set not our harts on these things, so as our joy in them should become either greater or equal with the rejoicing in the cross of Christ: but rather, that having wives we be as though we had none, & buying as though we possessed not, and using this world, as though we used it not. For otherwise the things of this world vanish away, and therefore they are no such things, as we should desire to stay our affections in them. 1. Cor. 2. 2. the Apostle speaking of the like thing, saith, I esteemed not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified, purposeth not to show that he knew not any thing else, or that he would deny unto men the knowledge of tongues, learning or handicrafts: for we know that he was a Pharisee, brought up in good learning at the feet of Gamaliel, and how he reporteth of himself, to speak as much in the tongues as any of the other Apostles, and that he was a Tent-maker, exhorting also in some of his ⟨p. 367⟩Epistles men to get their livings with some honest trade: but his meaning is, that he thought nothing worthy to be known, or coveted no knowledge as excellent in respect, and in comparison of the knowledge of Christ and him crucified. And therefore whereas there were some among the Corinthians, a people very famous for their learning and knowledge, who pleased themselves in a conceit of their great gifts and sciences, the Apostle not wanting these things, protesteth unto them, that he never made this humane knowledge the full scope, drift, and foundation of his labours, and that he never used them as the treasure of his heart, although he could tell how far to give them their reverence, their due time, and place in others; but that he esteemed them in that measure, as they stood him in stead the better to offer his service to Jesus Christ. Again, we must not here think, that the Apostle knew not parents, Magistrates and governors, the gifts of men, and the duties to be given to every one of these:

That I should reioyce. Marke, he saith not, Be it farre from me, that I should vse, thinke, speake, or doe any thing but the crosse of Christ: but he wisheth, that his affection should not principally be tied to any thing, but to Christ. Neither must we from hence vnfitly gather, that we should not eate, drinke, apparell ourselues, marrie, or walke in some honest trade of life; but this we must learne, that we set not our harts on these things, so as our ioy in them should become either greater or equall with the reioycing in the crosse of Christ: but rather, that hauing wiues we be as though we had none, & buying as though we possessed not, and vsing this world, as though we vsed it not. For otherwise the things of this world vanish away, and therefore they are no such things, as we should desire to stay our affections in them.