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,…

Furthermore, if we shall compare the estate of the Church of God, with the condition of the malignant Synagogue, we shall see them as far differing, as the light and darkness, as the shadow and the body, as God and Belial. As to point out one estate, namely in affliction, we shall find in them neither faith, nor constancy, but hypocrisy, and perjury; no¹ wisdom of the Spirit to defend themselves, but dissembling to hide themselves; no heavenly joy, in their suffering no patience of mind, but miserable murmurings, & blockish unsensiblenesse, no long sufferings, nor heroical spirits when they shall boil in cauldrons, as some good Christians have done; all which notwithstanding we shall find in Christ his Church, wherein they that suffer are persecuted for the testimony of a true faith; their faith is unremovable on the word of God, their constancy in persevering wonderful, their wisdom in answering abounding with courage and humility; their joy through hope, and as it were a present enjoying of the life looked for unspeakable, their patience unminishable, which thing whilst the wicked Church goeth about to follow, it is like an Ape² imitating a man, and may be compared to the Ass, which would be like a Lion.

Furthermore, if we shall compare the estate of the Church of God, with the condition of the malignant Synagogue, we shall see them as farre differing, as the light and darknes, as the shadow and the body, as God and Be•iall. As to poynt out one estate, namely in affliction, we shal finde in them neither faith, nor constancie, but hypocrisie, and periurie; no¹ wisedome of the Spirit to desend themselues, but dissembling to hide themselues; no heauenly ioy, in their suffering no patience of minde, but miserable murmurings, & blockish vnsensiblenesse, no long sufferings, nor heroical spirits when they shal boyle in cauldrons, as some good Christians haue done; all which notwithstanding we shall finde in Christ his Church, wherein they that suffer are persecuted for the testimonie of a true faith; their faith is vnremoueable on the word of God, their cōstancie in perseuering wonderfull, their wisedome in answering abounding with courage and humilitie; their ioy through hope, and as it were a present enioying of the life looked for vnspeakable, their patience vnminishable, which thing whilest the wicked Church goeth about to follow, it is like an Ape