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 remaineth: And as many as walk according to this rule, peace shall be upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. That the Apostle might show, that this was no special prerogative to himself alone, but a benefit common to all, not a work of supererogation in him, but a duty required of others, he saith, As many▪ &c. As if he should say, Let no man look to have peace in his conscience, and mercy at the hands of God, unless he can thus rejoice in the cross of Christ. And by the way observe this mark of a faithful Teacher, he la•eth not any charge upon others, until he had applied it to himself, and from his own practise he adviseth us. The word which he here useth, is a rule, whereby he noteth such a thing, as a Christian man cannot well want, being a chief instrument, which worketh in us mortification and sanctification. He termeth it not a good counsel, or a good advice, which we may take up and lay down at our pleasure, which if we could do, it were well, if we do it not, it is no great matter, as the Papists account of the spiritual interpretation of the Law, which our Saviour Christ useth, Matth. 5. For Popery, which is no better than country Divinity, thinketh it were a good thing if we could live so carefully: but it shaketh off this thing as a charge, and will not acknowledge it to be a rule, wherewith they stand bound before the Lord. A rule, we know, is commonly used in building, levelling, or framing, whereby one thing is made fit for another, and therefore usual to Carpenters, Masons, Geometers, or such, who measure all things by square and compass. Now because there is a glorious building in the word, and a man needeth continually to be built up in Jesus Christ, to have his affections levelled, his heart framed to faith and obedience, the Apostle borroweth this word rule. But what is this rule? Be it far from me, that I should rejoice, &c. So that we must especially rejoice in our sins pardoned, in the world crucified, in our hearts, bodies, and souls renewed. This is the rule of all. And why? Is it not rather an effect than a rule? Yes, but it is usual to put the name of the effect for the cause, and the fruit for the means: as we may see Jam. 1. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God is to visit the fatherless:

It remaineth: And as many as walke according to this rule, peace shall be vpon them and mercie, and vpon the Israel of God. That the Apostle might shew, that this was no speciall prerogatiue to himselfe alone, but a benefit common to all, not a worke of supererogation in him, but a dutie required of others, he saith, As many &c. As if he should say, Let no man looke to haue peace in his conscience, and mercie at the hands of God, vnlesse he can thus reioyce in the crosse of Christ. And by the way obserue this marke of a faithfull Teacher, he laeth not any charge vpon others, vntill he had applied it to himselfe, and from his owne practise he aduiseth vs. The word which he here vseth, is a rule, whereby he noteth such a thing, as a Christian man cannot well want, being a chiefe instrument, which worketh in vs mortification and sanctification. He termeth it not a good counsell, or a good aduice, which we may take vp and lay downe at our pleasure, which if we could doe, it were well, if we doe it not, it is no great matter, as the Papists account of the spirituall interpretation of the Law, which our Sauiour Christ vseth,