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,…

But these men that thus labour more for promotion, profit and pleasure, than to find Christ crucified, and cannot find the uncomparable joy, if they were new creatures, may happily carry the face of Christians, but surely by outward calling as yet they belong not unto Christ. And what are these outward things to be rejoiced in? Admit that a man had all learning, authority, riches, and credit; are they not common as well to the wicked as to the godly? are they not so transitory and insufficient, that the more a man hath of them, the more he may have? do they make the possessor the better, can they keep evil from him, can they minister comfort to the afflicted conscience, can they make us rejoice in the hour of death, or can they save us from confusion before God his judgement seat? Surely this is not in wit, eloquence, learning, friends, glory, riches, and authority, all which the wicked know better to abuse, than the godly to use; but in Christ, which was accursed, and in his cross which was a blessing unto us. Seeing it is so, well did the Apostle to rejoice in this above all. For were a man never so good, so glorious, so learned, so well brought up, of such authority, he must stoop at God his judgement seat, and there fall like a miserable caitiff, unless he used these things to God his glory, and above all rejoiced in the cross of Christ.

But these men that thus labour more for promotion, profit and pleasure, than to find Christ crucified, and cannot find the vncomparable ioy, if they were new creatures, may happily carrie the face of Christians, but surely by outward calling as yet they belong not vnto Christ. And what are these outward things to be reioyced in? Admit that a man had all learning, authoritie, riches, and credit; are they not common as well to the wicked as to the godly? are they not so transitorie and insufficient, that the more a man hath of them, the more he may haue? doe they make the possessor the better, can they keepe euill from him, can they minister comfort to the afflicted conscience, can they make vs reioyce in the houre of death, or can they saue vs from confusion before God his iudgement seate? Surely this is not in wit, eloquence, learning, friends, glorie, riches, and authoritie, all which the wicked know better to abuse, than the godly to vse; but in Christ, which was accursed, and in his crosse which was a blessing vnto vs. Seeing it is so, well did the Apostle to reioyce in this aboue all. For were a man neuer so good, so glorious, so learned, so well brought vp, of such authoritie, he must stoope at God his iudgement seate, and there fall like a miserable caitife, vnlesse he vsed these things to God his glorie, and aboue all reioyced in the crosse of Christ.