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 is well observed by Erasmus in his preface before Ireneus, that that holy father did only with the weapons of the Scriptures encounter with the whole troupe of heretics. The sung of David against Goliath▪ the sword of Goliath against the Philistines are not comparable to these weapons. The word of the Lord it is the sword of the spirit, we must fight with it: the light of the soul, see by it: the guide of our life, walk by it: the fire of the Sanctuary, be warmed by it: the water of life be purged by it: the food of heaven, be nourished by it▪ the interpreter of Gods will, we must know him by it: the means of consolation be comforted by it: and that mallet to knock out the brains of Antichrist▪ we must ever have it in our hands: If ever the son of Perdition ••e overcome, it must be by this means.

It is well obserued by Erasmus in his prefuce before Ireneus, that that holy father did onely with the weapons of the Scriptures encounter with the whole troupe of heretickes. The sung of Dauid against Goliah▪ the sword of Goliah against the Philistines are not comparable to these weapons. The word of the Lord it is the sword of the spirit, wee must fight with it: the light of the soule, see by it: the guide of our life, walke by it: the fire of the Sanctuary, be warmed by it: the water of life be purged by it: the food of heauen, be nourished by it▪ the interpreter of Gods will, we must know him by it: the meanes of consolation be comforted by it: and that mallet to knocke out the braines of Antichrist▪ we must euer haue it in our hands: If euer the sonne of Perdition ••e ouercome, it must be by this meanes.

To the reading of this word, the Fathers, especially Chrysostom, in many places exhorteth the people; and Erasmus in his preface to the new Testament, protesting his dissent from such as would not have private persons to read the Bible, saith, that the Sun in the firmament is not so common as the Doctrine of Christ. No man ever hated this light, but either he that wanted yes to behold it, or feared the light to discover his works of darkness. O then let us read this, and to reading add meditation, to meditation prayer, to prayer humility, to humility an aiming at Gods glory and our good, and to all a desire to turn Gods word into good works. This every word of God is pure and is to be preferred before the gold of Ophir. And to the end we might all delight in it, there is set down in the Bible all such variety of learning as may give content to each several Reader; Histories for the Temporist, Philosophy for the Naturalist, Ethics for the Moralist, Mysteries for the Artist, and languages for the Linguist. Here is a Flood for the great Elephant to swim in, and Ford for the little lamb to walk in. Would we be acquainted with the vanity of the world? what better means have we then the book of the Preacher? would we know how to live in the world? whence better can we have it, then from the book of the Proverbs? and if we would pour out prayers to God, David in his Psalms hath a platform of praying, which one little book is the Epitome of the Bible. Calvin calls it the Anatomy of the soul: Another, the prayer-book of the Church: Athanasius the definition of humane life: Basil the prediction of things to come: Nazianzene the sweet Companion of life: