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,…

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: ⟨image 212⟩Augustine the common Treasury of all good things: Ambrose the Medicine of Mans salutation: Chrysostom a Salve against every sore: Gregory that Stone which killed Goliath: And Bernard saith, that whosoever faithfully and devoutly doth sing the Psalms, in a sort is in association with the Angels: without which devotion, (what Quirister soever) shall sing them in the Church, I may say unto him as Augustine once said to the singing men of his time, Plus placet Deo mugitus Boum, latratus Canum, grunnitus porcorum, hinnitus Equorum▪ quàm cantus Clericorum luxuriantium:

To the reading of this word, the Fathers, especially Chrysostome, in many places exhorteth the people; and Erasmus in his preface to the new Testament, protesting his dissent from such as would not haue priuate persons to reade the Bible, saith, that the Sunne in the firmament is not so commō as the Doctrine of Christ. No man euer hated this light, but either he that wanted yes to behold it, or feared the light to discouer his workes of darkenes. O then let vs reade this, and to reading adde meditation, to meditation prayer, to prayer humilitie, to humilitie an ayming at Gods glorie and our good, and to all a desire to turne Gods word into good workes. This euery word of God is pure and is to be preferred before the golde of Ophir. And to the ende wee might all delight in it, there is set downe in the Bible all such varietie of learning as may giue content to each seuerall Reader; Histories for the Temporist, Philosophie for the Naturalist, Ethiques for the Moralist, Mysteries for the Artist, and languages for the Linguist. Heere is a Flood for the great Elephant to swimme in, and Foorde for the little lambe to walke in. Would wee be acquainted with the vanitie of the worlde? what better meanes haue wee then the booke of the Preacher? would wee know how to liue in the worlde? whence better can we haue it, then from the booke of the Prouerbes? and if we would powre out prayers to God, Dauid in his Psalmes hath a platforme of praying, which one little booke is the Epitome of the Bible. Caluin calls it the Anatomie of the soule: Another, the prayer-booke of the Church: Athanasius the definition of humane life: Basil the prediction of things to come: Nazianzene the sweete Companion of life: